Intermodal Traffic Gains 10.8% for Week
Intermodal traffic increased 10.8% last week from the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported.
Traffic for the week ended Saturday totaled 183,790 trailers and containers, led by an 11.7% gain in containers to 155,374 units. Trailers rose 6.1% to 28,416 units.
U.S. railroads originated 254,121 carloads for the week, up 3.2% from a year ago, AAR said in its weekly report.
The week included Thanksgiving Day both this year and last year, 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.
