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The Labor Day holiday put a slight crimp in U.S. railroads’ traffic growth, which had been gaining momentum the past several weeks. During the week ending Sept. 11, the roads originated 277,530 carloads, up a more meager 5.1 percent compared with volume from the same period last year, which also included Labor Day, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Fifteen of 19 carload commodity groups registered gains.

However, their weekly intermodal traffic continued to maintain a solid pace, rising 18.1 percent year over year to 206,850 units. Container volume increased 20.7 percent and trailer volume rose 4.1 percent.

Strong intermodal demand should continue given constrained truckload capacity and intermodal cost advantages relative to truck, according to Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.’s “Domestic Truck, Intermodal and Rail Trends” report for September.

“Absolute volumes have rebounded faster than other domestic modes of transportation with intermodal volumes at or above 2008 levels, consistent with secular intermodal growth,” the report states. “Overall, we expect a very strong domestic and international intermodal peak shipping season in head-haul lanes.”
 
Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported weekly volume of 71,091 carloads, up 12 percent, and 47,080 containers and trailers, up 23 percent year over year. During the week ending Sept. 11, Mexican railroads originated 14,336 carloads, up 24.5 percent, and 7,782 intermodal loads, up 9.1 percent.

Through 2010’s first 36 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 13.3 million carloads, up 9.9 percent, and 9.6 million containers and trailers, up 15.1 percent year over year.

For more AAR traffic data for the week ending Sept. 11 and through 36 weeks, follow this link.