Intermodal Traffic Rises 4.4% for Week

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Bruce Harmon/Trans Pixs

U.S. intermodal traffic rose 4.4% last week from a year ago, led by an increase in container traffic, the Association of American Railroads said.

Container traffic rose 5.4% to 215,864 units, while trailer traffic dipped 1% to 35,000 units.

Railroad carloads excluding intermodal rose 4.7%, to 312,170 units, 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.