Intermodal Traffic Increases 10.6% for Week
Intermodal traffic rose 10.6% last week from the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported.
Traffic for the week ended Saturday totaled 235,999 trailers and containers, led by an 11.7% gain in containers to 199,062 units. Trailers rose 5.2% to 36,937 units.
U.S. railroads originated 297,990 carloads for the week, up 3.9% from a year ago, AAR 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.
