Breaking

Intermodal Rail Traffic Surges 10% as Trucking Pressures Mount

U.S. rail carriers moved 534,256 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending Oct. 2, marking a 2 percent gain year-over-year, according to Association of American Railroads data. Intermodal volume climbed 10 percent to 302,252 containers and trailers, while carload growth reached 3.4 percent to 232,004 units. Eight of 10 carload commodity groups expanded, led by metallic ores and metals used in steelmaking, up 19 percent. Coal declined 2 percent and farm products excluding grain fell 5 percent. Year-to-date, combined traffic reached 20,522,546 units, up 3 percent. North American rail volume across U.S., Canadian and Mexican carriers totaled 725,403 units for the week, up 5 percent, with year-to-date volume at 28,096,978 units, up 3 percent.