Intermodal Traffic Rises 2.8% for Week
U.S. rail intermodal traffic rose 2.8% last week from the same week a year ago to 245,678 units, the Association of American Railroads reported.
Year-to-date, intermodal traffic has risen 4.3% to 4.3 million units over the same period last year.
Railroad carloads increased 2.8% for the week ended Saturday to 283,916 units, according to AAR.
Six of the 10 carload groups posted increases compared with the same week last year, led by a 52.4% jump in petroleum products.
Railroad volume is considered an important economic indicator. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-value merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for shorter distances at either end of the trip.
