United States intermodal traffic in April 2001 declined 4% from year-earlier levels, according to figures compiled by the Association of American Railroads.
It was the fourth consecutive month in which the volume of container and piggyback trailers on US railroads was below the corresponding month in 2000.
Thanks to a sharp increase in coal traffic, total US rail carload freight rose 0.1% in April compared with April 2000. Coal loadings were up 9.2% for April 2001. Other increases included grain mill products, food, and coke.
Through the first 17 weeks of 2001, intermodal shipments of trailers were down 10.4%. Containers, however, increased 1.3%.