Intermodal Traffic Reaches Highest Since November 2008

Intermodal volume on U.S. freight railroads has reached its highest level since November 2008 last week

. At a total of 225,111 trailers and containers, intermodal traffic was up 35.5 percent from last year and 10.3 percent from 2008, according to the Association of American Railroads.

From the same week in 2009, container volume gained 37.5 percent, while trailer volume rose 25.2 percent. In comparison to 2008, container volume jumped 19.4 percent, while trailer volume fell 23.3 percent. Unlike 2008 and 2009, the week did not include the Memorial Day holiday.

The number of carloads was up 21.9 percent from 2009, landing at 286,665 carloads. However, this was down 8.9 percent from the 2008 week. All 19 carload commodities increased from the 2009 week and three groups posted increases over 2008 levels.

Year to date, carloads are up 7.2 percent from 2009 and down 13.5 percent from 2008.