U.S. intermodal traffic tops 10 million for first time

U.S. intermodal traffic tops 10 million for first time Intermodal volume on U.S. railroads has topped 10 million trailers and containers in a single year for the first time, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Thursday.
   Total intermodal traffic for the year to Dec. 4 reached 10.2 million trailers and containers, up 10 percent from the first 48 weeks last year, when the previous annual record of 9.9 million was set.
   During the week ended Dec. 4, U.S. railroads moved 232,798 trailers and containers, up 14.9 percent from last year.
   The AAR also reported the following cumulative totals for U.S. railroads during the first 48 weeks of 2004: 16.1 million carloads, up 3 percent from last year; and total volume of an estimated 1.5 trillion ton-miles, up 5 percent.
   Railroads reporting to AAR account for 88 percent of U.S. carload freight and 95 percent of rail intermodal volume.