US Rail Intermodal Traffic Rises for Week

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American Association of Railroads

U.S. rail intermodal traffic rose 2.3% in the week ended April 11 compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Railroads moved 270,463 intermodal trailers and containers, AAR announced April 16 in its weekly report. The rise follows a 3.8% increase the prior week.

Rail carload volume, which excludes intermodal units, declined 2.6% year-over-year to 287,349 carloads.

Six of the 10 commodity groups that AAR tracks improved over last year. Grain had the highest increase with a 13.9% increase, followed by petroleum and petroleum products at 5.5%.

Intermodal volume for 13 reporting North American railroads increased 2.8% to 342,504 trailers and containers.

Canadian railroads moved 61,964 intermodal units, a 5.1% rise. Mexican rail moved 10,077 units, a 1.7% rise from the same time last year.

Year-to-date U.S. intermodal volume increased 0.5% to 3.6 million units.