Weekly Intermodal Rail Traffic Rises 5.7%

U.S. rail intermodal traffic rose 5.7% in the week ended May 2 compared with the same week last year as carload traffic declined 4.8%, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Railroads moved 282,696 intermodal trailers and containers, AAR announced May 6 in its weekly report. The rise follows a 5.6% increase the prior week.

Rail carload volume, which excludes intermodal units, declined to 283,091 carloads year-over-year.

Six of the 10 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2014. Motor vehicles and parts are up 0.8% or 733 carloads.

Canadian railroads reported 80,262 carloads for the week, down 6%, and 63,460 intermodal units, up 2.8% compared with the same week in 2014. Mexican railroads reported 15,239 carloads for the week, down 4.4% compared with the same week last year, and 9,679 intermodal units, up 3%.