Weekly Intermodal Traffic Improves

Intermodal traffic rose 13.1% compared with last year in the week ended Saturday, the Association of American Railroads said.

Traffic totaled 236,272 trailers and containers, led by a 14.1% jump in containers to 201,504 units. Trailers rose 7.4% to 34,768 units.

U.S. railroads originated 297,029 carloads for the week, 8.8% higher than a year ago, AAR said.

AAR will end its weekly practice of comparing intermodal and rail volumes to the same week in 2008, the group said. It will only compare figures to the previous year.

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.