U S Intermodal Traffic in April 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 trailer on U S railroads was below the corresponding month in 2000.
Thanks to a sharp increase in coal traffic, total U S rail carload freight rose 0.1% in April, compared with April 2000. Coal loadings were up 9.2% for April. 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%.