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Intermodal, Rail Traffic Decline
Intermodal rail traffic fell 12.8% last week compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.
Total intermodal volume fell to 169,290 units, from 194,136. Container volume fell 6.4% to 141,049 units, while trailer volume plunged 34.9% to 28,241 units, the group said.
Overall freight rail traffic fell 15.6% for the week, to 241,240 carloads, AAR said in its weekly report Thursday.
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.
