Intermodal Traffic Rises 11.9% for Week
Intermodal traffic rose 11.9% last week from the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported.
Traffic for the week ended Saturday totaled 232,888 trailers and containers, led by a 12.8% gain in containers to 196,596 units. Trailers rose 7.5% to 36,292 units.
U.S. railroads originated 297,296 carloads for the week, up 5.8% higher 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.
