U.S. carload volume fairly flat in Week 32

Total U.S. freight-rail traffic rose 5.2% to 496,509 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending Aug. 10 compared with volume in the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Carloads were fairly flat, dipping just 0.9% to 222,039 units. Intermodal activity climbed 10.6% to 274,470 containers and trailers.

Six of the 10 carload commodity groups that AAR tracks every week posted gains, including grain, up 26.6% to 18,402 units; chemicals, up 9.9% to 32,959 units; and farm products excluding grain and food, up 3.5% to 16,193 units.

Commodity groups that logged decreases included coal at 11.1%, metallic ores and metals at 4.5%, and nonmetallic minerals at 3.9%.

For the week, Canadian railroads reported 89,620 carloads, up 2.5%, and 66,976 intermodal units, up 5.5% year over year. Mexican railroads reported 15,145 carloads, up 6.2%, and 12,322 intermodal units, up 27.9%.

Through 2024's first 32 weeks, U.S. railroads reported 15,102,002 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.5%; Canadian railroads posted 5,114,967 carloads, containers and trailers, up 1.4%; and Mexican railroads logged 926,052 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.3% year over year.