Week 42: Intermodal volume reflects ongoing supply chain issues

U.S. railroads hauled 510,762 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Oct. 23, a 2.3% decrease compared with the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Weekly intermodal rail volume continues to reflect the nation’s ongoing supply chain backlog. Total intermodal volume for the week was 271,567 containers and trailers, down 8%, while total carloads for the week were 239,195 units, up 5.1%.

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase for the week. They included coal, up 8,175 carloads to 65,712; metallic ores and metals, up 2,537 carloads to 23,192; and miscellaneous carloads, up 1,537 carloads to 11,036.

Commodity groups that posted decreases during the week were motor vehicles and parts, down 2,057 carloads to 13,403; petroleum and petroleum products, down 623 carloads to 9,544; and grain, down 138 carloads to 25,857.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 78,908 carloads for the week, down 2%, and 70,889 intermodal units, down 11.1%. Mexican railroads reported 19,781 carloads for the week, down 10.2%, and 15,645 intermodal units, down 1.3%.

For the first 42 weeks of 2021 compared with the same period in 2020:
• U.S. railroads logged 21,336,134 carloads and intermodal units, up 8%;
• Canadian railroads posted 6,228,236 carloads, containers and trailers, up 4.1%; and
• Mexican railroads reported 1,516,351 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 3.6%.