Tom Biery/Trans PixsU.S. intermodal traffic rose 3% for the week ended Saturday from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.
Trailer traffic fell 10.5% to 29,405 units, but containers rose 5.2% to 209,626 units, AAR said.
Railroad carloads excluding intermodal slipped 2% to 276,136 units, the rail trade group 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.