U.S. intermodal traffic still booming

U.S. intermodal traffic still booming    The Association of American Railroads reported Thursday that intermodal freight carried by major U.S. railroads increased 11 percent to 233,559 trailers or containers in the week ended Nov. 6, from the year-earlier period.
   This was the second highest weekly intermodal total ever, trailing only the week ended Oct. 30.
   Containers carried by major railroads rose 12 percent to about 168,000 units in the week ended Nov. 6, while trailers increased 9 percent to about 65,000 units.
   During the first 44 weeks of 2004, major U.S. railroads handled an intermodal volume of 9.3 million trailers or containers up 10 percent.
   Total carloads moved by major railroads increased 2 percent to about 343,000 units in the week ended Nov. 6, with volume up 3.7 percent in the West and 0.8 percent in the East.
   “Freight traffic on the nation’s railroads continued to run well ahead of year earlier levels,” the association said.