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U.S. intermodal rail traffic increased 17.9% in the week ended Saturday compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.
Total intermodal volume grew to 212,296 units in the week, from 180,047 last year, AAR said in its weekly report Thursday.
Containers jumped 22.6% to 180,521 units, while trailers dropped 3.2% to 31,775 units.
Freight rail traffic, which excludes intermodal traffic, rose 3.7% to 285,160 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.
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