Bruce Harmon/Trans PixsU.S. intermodal traffic rose 3.6% last week from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads reported.
Container traffic for the week ended Saturday rose 5.5% to 217,643 units, while trailers fell 8.7% to 29,581 units.
Railroad carloads excluding intermodal dropped 2.1% to 293,916 units, 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.