Intermodal Volume Reaches Highest Level Since 2008

During the week ended May 15, intermodal volume reached its highest level since 2008, according to data by the Association of American Railroads.

Intermodal traffic gained 15.2 percent from last year, totaling 218,206 trailers and containers. This was down 6.7 percent from 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 16.8 percent, while trailer volume rose 6.9 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume was up 0.8 percent while trailer volume fell 34.6 percent.

U.S. railroads saw 290,263 carloads during the week, up 16.6 percent from the same week in 2009, but down 11.9 percent from 2008.

In the east, carload volume was up 24.5 percent from last year, but down 13.5 percent from 2008. In the west, carload volume increased 11.6 percent from last year, and fell 10.8 percent from 2008.