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Intermodal, Rail Traffic Drop for Week, Month
Intermodal rail traffic in the United States fell 16.1% last week compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.
Total intermodal volume fell to 193,684 units, from 230,825. Container volume fell 10.6% to 162,437 units, while trailer volume plunged 36.4% to 31,247 units, the group said.
Freight rail traffic, which excludes intermodal traffic, fell 18.3% for the week, to 274,728 carloads, AAR said in its weekly report Thursday.
For the month of July, intermodal traffic fell 18% compared with last year, to 203,061 units. Freight rail traffic dropped 17.5% to 280,659 carloads.
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.