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Intermodal Traffic Drops for Week
U.S. intermodal rail traffic in the United States fell 16.2% last week from the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said in its weekly report.
Total intermodal volume fell to 193,207 units, from 230,437 last year. Containers fell 10.2% to 163,028 units, while trailer volume plunged 38.2% to 30,179 units.
Freight rail traffic, which excludes intermodal traffic, fell 16.1% for the week ended Saturday to 279,478 carloads, AAR said.
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.