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Intermodal, Rail Traffic Fall for Week
Intermodal rail traffic in the United States fell 16.6% last week compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.
Total intermodal volume fell to 195,014 units, from 233,948. Container volume fell 10.8% to 164,077 units, while trailer volume plunged 38.1% to 30,937 units, the group said.
Freight rail traffic, which excludes intermodal traffic, fell 16% for the week, to 274,633 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.