advertisement

---

U.S. roads' intermodal volume crept up the week ended Oct. 12 compared with the previous week, but significantly trailed the volume posted in a comparable 2001 week, according to Association of American Railroads data released Oct. 17.


The railroads moved 151,826 trailers and containers, up 13.0 percent compared with the previous port-lockout week and down 18.5 percent compared with last year. Container volume dropped 25.3 percent and trailer loadings, 1.0 percent, compared with a similar 2001 period.


However, during 2002's first 41 weeks, U.S. roads moved 7,315,487 trailers and containers — still a modest 3.8 percent increase compared with last year.


Canadian railroads' weekly data proved the port lockout had a minimal effect on their intermodal traffic: The roads moved 43,019 trailers and containers the week ended Oct. 12, rising 26.5 percent compared with a similar 2001 week. And through the year's first 41 weeks, the railroads moved 1,574,665 trailers and containers, up 10.3 percent compared with last year.


On a combined cumulative-volume basis, 16 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 8,890,152 trailers and containers during the year's first 41 weeks, still a healthy 4.9 percent bump compared with a similar 2001 period.