INTERMODAL rail volume in the US reached its highest level last month since November of 2008, a year-on-year increase of 35.5 per cent to 225,111 trailers and containers, according to the Association of American Railroads.

Container volume gained 37.5 per cent, while trailer volume rose 25.2 per cent over the same period. In 2008, container volume was up 19.4 per cent, while trailers dropped 23.3 per cent.

The number of carloads was up 21.9 per cent from 2009, landing at 286,665 carloads. But this was down 8.9 per cent from the 2008 week, reported TruckingInfo of Irvine, California, adding that all 19 carload commodities increased from the 2009 week and three groups posted increases over 2008 levels.

Source: shipping online