Intermodal Traffic Bounces Back Following Down Week

ntermodal volume rose 6.2% for the week ended April 9 compared to last year, bouncing back from a 0.1% drop the previous week, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Rail intermodal volume rose to 213,900 trailers or containers from the same week last year, AAR said. Container volume rose 7.8% while trailers gained 2%, 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.

AAR estimated total volume for the week at 32.1 billion ton-miles, up 5.9% from 30.3 billion miles a year earlier.