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Intermodal Traffic Plunges 4.8% for Week
Rail and intermodal traffic both plunged for the week ended Saturday compared with a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday.
Intermodal traffic declined 4.8%, led by a drop in container traffic, which fell 5.8% to 178,850 units. Trailers declined 1.3% to 49,574 units.
Overall rail traffic fell 4.4% for the week, to 324,337 carloads, the group 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.