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Intermodal, Rail Traffic Continue to Decline
Intermodal rail traffic fell 18.8% last week compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.
Total intermodal volume fell to 189,541 units, from 233,516. Container volume fell 13.5% to 159,134 units, while trailer volume plunged 38.6% to 30,407 units, the group said.
Overall freight rail traffic fell 17.9% for the week, to 268,553 carloads, AAR said in its weekly report Thursday.
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.