U.S. freight-rail volumes plunge 9.4% in Week 11

U.S. rail traffic in the week ending March 18 totaled 453,500 carloads and intermodal units, down 9.4% compared with the same period in 2022, according to Association of American Railroads data.

The railroads logged 227,454 carloads, down 2.7%, and 226,046 containers and trailers, down 15.2%.

Three of the 10 carload commodity groups that AAR tracks weekly posted increases for the week. They were: coal, up 2,886 carloads to 67,912; motor vehicles and parts, up 1,150 carloads to 15,091; and metallic ores and metals, up 378 carloads to 20,534.

Commodities that posted decreases included grain, down 4,439 carloads to 18,743; chemicals, down 1,993 carloads to 32,175; and nonmetallic minerals, down 1,890 carloads to 29,265.

For the first 11 weeks of 2023, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,523,553 carloads, down 0.3%, and 2,556,114 intermodal units, down 9.6% compared with volumes in the same period a year ago.

Canadian railroads reported 78,381 carloads for the week, up 6.7%, and 59,280 intermodal units, down 9.3%. For the first 11 weeks of the year, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 1,527,311 carloads, containers and trailers, up 2.7%, compared with the same period last year.

Mexican railroads reported 22,573 carloads for the week, up 7.4%, and 14,874 intermodal units, down 0.1%. For the first 11 weeks of 2023, Mexican railroads logged 406,501 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 0.6% compared with volumes during the same period in 2022.