Intermodal Traffic Rises for Week

U.S. intermodal rail traffic increased 19% in the week ended Feb. 20 compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.

Total intermodal volume rose to 200,204 units, from 168,194 last year, AAR said in its weekly report Thursday.

Containers jumped 24.9% to 169,563 units, while trailers fell 5.6% to 30,641 units.

Freight rail traffic, which excludes intermodal traffic, dropped 1.6% to 273,999 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.