Intermodal volume continues to drive U.S. freight-rail traffic in Week 42

U.S. freight-rail traffic rose 1.1% to 510,730 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Oct. 19 compared with traffic results in the same week in 2023, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Railroads hauled 223,278 carloads during the week, a 4.6% decrease, and 287,452 containers and trailers, a 6% increase.

Five of the 10 carload commodities that AAR tracks every week logged an increase during the week. Gainers included grain, up 15% to 23,372 carloads; miscellaneous, up 11.3% to 9,992; and farm products excluding grain, and food, up 5.2% to 18,082.

Commodity groups that posted decreases included coal, down 12.4% to 58,350 carloads; nonmetallic minerals, down 11.1% to 30,281; and metallic ores and metals, down 15.8% to 18,884.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 95,182 carloads for the week, down 2.1%, and 67,489 intermodal units, down 7.1%. Mexican railroads reported 14,900 carloads, a 13.8% decrease, and 13,632 intermodal units, a 1.5% decrease.

For the first 42 weeks of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023:

• U.S. railroads reported 20,185,595 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.1%;

• Canadian railroads posted 6,677,340 carloads, containers and trailers, down 0%; and 

• Mexican railroads logged 1,214,646 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.7%.