U.S. freight-rail traffic rose 4.5% in Week 45

U.S. freight-rail traffic climbed 4.5% to 519,115 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Nov. 9 compared with the same week in 2023, according to Association of American Railroads data.

The railroads hauled 224,722 carloads in the week, a 3.7% decrease, and 294,393 containers and trailers, a 11.7% increase.

Six of the 10 carload commodities that AAR tracks every week logged an increase. The gainers included farm products excluding grain, and food, up 9.9% to 18,452 carloads; chemicals, up 4.1% to 31,935; and petroleum and petroleum products, up 9.7% to 11,084.

Commodity groups that posted decreases included coal, down 14.5% to 58,809; nonmetallic minerals, down 6.8% to 29,186; and motor vehicles and parts, down 7.7% to 15,276.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 93,617 carloads for the week, down 3.6%; and 41,958 intermodal units, down 39.6%. Mexican railroads reported 15,344 carloads for the week, a 11.8% increase; and 13,176 intermodal units, a 17.7% increase.

For the first 45 weeks of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023:

• U.S. railroads reported 21,740,868 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.2% increase;

• Canadian railroads posted 7,148,600 carloads, containers and trailers, down 0.4%; and

• Mexican railroads logged 1,289,062 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.3% increase.