U.S. freight-rail traffic sinks 2.7% in Week 33

Total U.S. rail volume continued on a downward spiral in the week ending Aug. 19, with railroads logging a combined 478,853 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.7% compared with the same period in 2022, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Total carloads for the week were 228,972 units, down 0.6%, while intermodal volume was 249,881 containers and trailers, down 4.6%.

Four of the 10 carload commodity groups that AAR tracks every week posted increases. They were: motor vehicles and parts, up 16.7%; petroleum and petroleum products, up 9%; nonmetallic minerals, up 2.3%; and coal, up 2.2%.

Commodity groups that logged decreases included grain, down 18.3%; forest products, down 14.4%;  and farm products (excluding grain) and food, down 6.1%.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 90,149 carloads for the week, up 3.1%, and 71,108 intermodal units, down 12.6%. Mexican railroads hauled 16,279 carloads, up 11.5%, and 8,830 containers and trailers, down 16.2%.

For the first 33 weeks of 2023 compared with the same period in 2022:

• U.S. railroads reported 15,223,832 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.9%;

• Canadian railroads logged 5,204,561 carloads, containers and trailers, down 3%; and

• Mexican railroads posted 926,401 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.9%.