U.S. roads set intermodal volume record in year's 24th week

For the week ending June 14, U.S. railroads logged 270,243 intermodal loads — the highest mark in history for total weekly intermodal volume, according to the Association of American Railroads. Volume climbed 6.3 percent compared with the same week last year.

U.S. railroads also originated 295,132 carloads last week, up 2.2 percent year over year. Total combined traffic rose 4.1 percent to 565,375 units and nine of 10 carload commodity groups posted gains, led by grain at 22.3 percent, petroleum and petroleum products at 13.2 percent, and metallic ores and metals at 8.4 percent.

Through 2014's first 24 weeks, U.S. railroads reported 6,858,695 carloads, up 3.2 percent, and 6,105,121 intermodal units, up 5.8 percent compared with the same 2013 period.

For the week ending June 14, Canadian railroads reported 88,502 carloads, up 12.3 percent, and 59,201 intermodal units, up 8.3 percent. Mexican railroads' weekly carloads increased 4.9 percent to 16,920 units and their intermodal volume rose 5.7 percent to 10,537 units.

Through 24 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads handled 9,092,126 carloads, up 2.2 percent, and 7,670,233 containers and trailers, up 5.8 percent compared with the same 2013 period.