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Intermodal, Rail Traffic Fall for Week
Intermodal rail traffic fell 17% last week compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.
Total intermodal volume fell to 189,508 units, from 228,424. Container volume fell 11.5% to 158,285 units, while trailer volume plunged 37% to 31,223 units, the group said.
Overall freight rail traffic fell 19% for the week, to 261,956 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.