Intermodal Traffic Decreases for Week

U.S. intermodal rail traffic dropped 3% in the week ended Saturday compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.

Total intermodal volume declined to 204,950 units, from 211,354 last year, AAR said in its weekly report.

Containers rose 3.6% to 167,478 units, while trailer volume plunged 24.5% to 37,472 units.

Freight rail traffic, which excludes intermodal traffic, fell 10.2% to 261,933 carloads, AAR said.

Railroad volume is considered an important economic indicator. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-valued merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for the shorter distance at either end of the trip.