U.S., Canadian freight-rail traffic numbers soar in Week 51

U.S. freight-rail traffic increased 24.2% to 486,787 carloads, containers and trailers in the week ending Dec. 23 compared with the same week in 2022, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Total carloads for the week rose 23.7% to 230,946 units, while intermodal volume climbed 24.7% to 255,841 containers and trailers.

All 10 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2022. They included coal, up 32.7% to 66,730 carloads; motor vehicles and parts, up 43.5% to 16,287; and grain, up 26.7% to 21,237.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads logged 93,678 carloads in the week, a 23.1% increase, and 70,358 containers and trailers, a 33.5% increase. Mexican railroads posted 15,445 carloads, an 11% decrease, and 11,343 containers and trailers, a 2.2% decrease.

For the first 51 weeks of 2023 compared to 2022:
• U.S. railroads reported 23,998,429 carloads and intermodal units, a 2.4% decrease;
• Canadian railroads posted 8,168,179 carloads, containers and trailers, a 2.5% drop; and
• Mexican railroads logged 1,413,629 carloads and intermodal units, a 2.1% increase.