Rail, Intermodal Freight Shipments Drop in First Week of Year

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ail freight traffic and intermodal shipments fell in the first week of 2006 from the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Total intermodal volume fell 6.6% compared with the first week last year, AAR said in its weekly report. Trailer volume fell 9.8% to 46,394 units, while containers dropped 5.6% to 146,457.

Total rail carload traffic for the week ended Jan. 7 was off 1.5% from last year, the group reported. Volume was estimated at 30.2 billion ton-miles, down 0.3% from last year.

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.