Intermodal a drag on U.S. rail traffic in Week 37

U.S. railroads logged a 2% carload increase but a 7.3% intermodal volume decrease in the week ending Sept. 17 compared with the same period a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Combined, the railroads moved 239,528 carloads and 251,126 containers and trailers, down 2.9%. Five of the 10 carload commodity groups that AAR tracks each week posted increases, including coal, up 3,948 carloads to 72,774; nonmetallic minerals, up 2,491 carloads to 35,163; and motor vehicles and parts, up 2,185 carloads to 13,879.

Among the commodity groups that posted decreases: metallic ores and metals, down 3,192 carloads to 21,581, and forest products, down 1,362 carloads to 9,076.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads for Week 37 reported 81,350 carloads, up 3.7%, and 75,196 intermodal units, up 0.6%. Mexican railroads logged 21,156 carloads, up 22.1%, and 15,273 intermodal units, up 18%.

For 2022's first 37 weeks compared to the same 2021 period:
• U.S. railroads reported 18,293,877 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.7%;
• Canadian railroads registered 5,351,880 carloads, containers and trailers, down 2.4%; and
• Mexican railroads logged 1,379,277 carloads, containers and trailers, up 2.1%.