Truck/Intermodal Volumes Rise

The American Trucking Associations said its truck tonnage index rose 1.8% to 154.9 in February. (1993 = 100 in the ATA index) The index was the second highest level ever reported, falling just below the 155.8 recorded in December 2003. January 2004 saw a 2.3% decline. It was the fifth increase in the last six months.

Rail intermodal loadings were also up in the week ending March 20. The 206,976 trailers and containers loaded during the period represent a 10.1% increase from the same period in 2003. The American Association of Railroads said intermodal trailer traffic was up 14.2% and container volumes were up 8.6%.

The first 11 weeks of 2004 posted an increase of 6.9% for both trailer and container traffic moving by rail.