Intermodal Traffic Continues to Rise, AAR Reports

May 8, 2006 10:30 AM, EDT

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ail intermodal traffic jumped 9.8% in the week ended April 29 over the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Intermodal container volume leaped 13.1% to 190,928 containers, while trailers edged up 0.2% to 57,587 units, AAR said in its weekly report.

Total rail carloads dipped 2.2% for the week.

For the month of April, intermodal traffic rose 6.8% over last year, while carloads fell 1%, 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.