Intermodal Traffic Increases for Week

Intermodal rail traffic continued its upward trend last week, rising 14% from the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.

Intermodal volume grew to 208,809 units, from 183,210 last year, AAR said in its weekly report Thursday.

Containers rose 15.9% to 176,650 units, while trailers gained 4.3% to 32,159 units for the week ended Saturday.

Freight rail traffic, which excludes intermodal traffic, rose 14.7% to 288,905 carloads, AAR said.

Total rail freight volume was estimated at 32.2 billion ton-miles, up 16.2% from last year but 8.8% below 2008.

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.