Intermodal Traffic Rises 3.3% for Week
Intermodal traffic rose 3.3% last week from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads reported.
The gain was led by a 4.2% increase in container traffic to 201,184 units. Trailer traffic, however, declined 1.6%, to 33,591 units.
Railroad carloads excluding intermodal dropped 0.2% for the week ended Saturday, to 284,562 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.
