Intermodal Traffic Rises 11.7% for Week
Intermodal rose 11.7% last week from a year earlier, the Association of American Railroads said.
Traffic for the week ended Saturday totaled 231,078 trailers and containers, led by a 12.4% jump in containers to 195,577 units. Trailers rose 7.7% to 35,501 units.
U.S. railroads originated 288,056 carloads for the week, up 4.9% higher from a year ago, 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.
