U.S. freight-rail volumes tumble 3.6% in Week 23

U.S. railroads logged decreases in carload, container and trailer volumes for the week ending June 11 compared with the same week in 2021, according to Association of American Railroads data.

For the week, railroads hauled 234,942 carloads, down 2.8%, and 275,353 containers and trailers, down 4.4%. Total U.S. rail volume for the period was 510,295 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.6%.

Three of the 10 carload commodity groups that AAR tracks weekly posted increases. They were motor vehicles and parts, up 1,571 carloads to 13,793; farm products (excluding grain) and food, up 1,203 carloads to 16,340; and nonmetallic minerals, up 618 carloads to 33,028. 

Commodity groups that posted decreases included grain, down 2,912 carloads to 21,429; coal, down 2,657 carloads to 66,607; and miscellaneous carloads, down 1,466 carloads to 9,769.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads logged 77,814 carloads for the week, up 2.1%, and 73,084 intermodal units, down 0.4%. Mexican railroads logged 19,470 carloads, down 15.7%, and 14,719 intermodal units, down 14.4%.

For the first 23 weeks of 2022 compared with the same period in 2021:

• U.S. railroads reported 11,377,777 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.5%;

• Canadian railroads reported 3,285,099 carloads, containers and trailers, down 5.8%; and

• Mexican railroads reported 853,952 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 2.8%.