U.S. intermodal volume slide continued in Week 46

U.S. railroads logged 508,309 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Nov. 20, a 4.9% decrease compared with the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Carloads for the week totaled 237,244 units, up 1.6%, while intermodal volume totaled 271,065 containers and trailers, down 10%.

Six of the 10 carload commodity groups that the AAR tracks every week posted increases, including metallic ores and metals, up 1,838 carloads to 21,524; coal, up 1,780 carloads to 64,719; and chemicals, up 1,437 carloads to 34,174.

Commodity groups that posted decreases included motor vehicles and parts, which dropped by 887 carloads, and grain, which declined by 710 carloads.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 73,037 carloads and 52,947 intermodal units for the week, down 12% and 32.7%, respectively.

For the first 46 weeks of 2021 compared with the same 2020 period:
• U.S. railroads reported 23,361,308 carloads and intermodal units, up 6.9%;
• Canadian railroads reported 6,804,271 carloads, containers and trailers, up 2.8%; and
• Mexican railroads reported 1,668,040 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 3.8%.