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Employment levels at the U.S. Class Is increased a skosh last month. As of mid-February, the large roads employed 162,228 people, up 0.1 percent from January's level and 0.9 percent from February 2012's mark, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

Only two employment categories registered month-over-month declines: maintenance of equipment and stores, down 0.4 percent to 30,046, and executives, officials sand staff assistants, down 0.1 percent to 9,838. The size of U.S. Class Is' professional and administrative staff was relatively flat at 14,143, while their maintenance of way and structures force rose 0.6 percent to 36,268, transportation (train and engine) ranks inched up 0.1 percent to 65,135 and transportation (other than train and engine) workforce ratcheted up 0.1 percent to 6,798.

On a year-over-year basis, only the transportation (T&E) sector shrunk, decreasing 0.4 percent. The other categories posted the following gains: executives, officials and staff assistants, 3.5 percent; professional and administrative staff, 2.4 percent; maintenance of way and structures, 1.5 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores, 1.5 percent; and transportation (other than T&E), 1.3 percent.