Rail Volume Falls, Intermodal Gains, AAR Says

ail freight traffic fell in the second week of June compared with the same week last year, but intermodal volume rose, the Association of American Railroads said.

Intermodal volume rose 3.1% over the same week, last year, AAR said in its weekly report. Container volume rose 5.4% to 170,131 units while trailer levels dropped 3.3% to 55,198 units.

Total rail volume fell 2.2% to 332,491 car loads for the week ended June 11, the rail trade group reported. It was the third decline in the past five weeks.

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.