Intermodal Rail Traffic Sets New Records
According to the Association of American Railroads, it totaled 1,381,749 containers and trailers, up 4.9%, or 64,071 units, over October 2013.
Photo: Jim Park
Newly released figures show a record amount of intermodal rail traffic was transported in the U.S. during October.
According to the Association of American Railroads, it totaled 1,381,749 containers and trailers, up 4.9%, or 64,071 units, over October 2013.
Also, the weekly average of 276,350 containers and trailers during the month was the highest ever while October was the 59th straight month of year-over-year intermodal increases.
For the first 10 months of 2014, U.S. intermodal volume was a record 11,459,079 units, up 5.5% over 2013.
The figures come as total U.S. rail traffic for October showed both carload and intermodal volume increasing over a year ago. U.S. Class I railroads originated 1,507,917 carloads, up 4.4%, or 63,881 carloads, over October 2013.
Also, the average of 301,583 weekly carloads in October marked only the third time since 2008 that a month had a weekly carload total of more than 300,000.
The figures follow industry reports showing U.S. truck freight is at or near a record level.
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