Intermodal traffic rose 0.8% last week on higher container traffic, the Association of American Railroads reported.
Container traffic increased 1.5% to 203,305 units from a year ago, while trailer traffic fell 3.4% to 32,293 units, AAR said.
Railroad carloads, excluding intermodal, declined 1.2% for the week ended Saturday, to 292,266 units, AAR said in its weekly report.
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.