U.S. freight-rail traffic down 2% in Week 3

U.S. railroads logged 467,485 carloads, containers and trailers for the week ending Jan. 21, a 2.1% decrease compared with traffic levels in the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Carloads totaled 230,545 units for the week, up 3.3%, while intermodal volume totaled 236,940 containers and trailers, down 6.7%.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups that AAR tracks weekly posted increases. They included nonmetallic minerals, coal, and motor vehicles and parts. Commodity groups that posted decreases included chemicals, grain and forest products.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads hauled 82,940 carloads for the week, up 20.2%, and 56,839 intermodal units, down 7.9%. Mexican railroads transported 22,628 carloads for the week, up 0.7%, and 15,723 intermodal units, down 1.1%.

For the first three weeks of 2023 compared with 2022:

• U.S. railroads reported 1,369,974 carloads and intermodal units, down 3%;
• Canadian railroads reported 413,325 carloads, containers and trailers, up 8.7%;
• Mexican railroads reported 109,881 carloads, containers and trailers, up 0.3%; and
• North American rail volume totaled 1,893,180 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.5%.