Intermodal leads U.S. rail traffic to a weekly gain

WASHINGTON – Total U.S. weekly rail traffic rose 0.9% for the week ending May 18, up 474,886 carloads and intermodal units compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported on Wednesday.

Total carloads for the week ending May 18 were 214,092 carloads, down 4.8% compared with the same week in 2023, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 260,794 containers and trailers, up 6.2% compared to 2023.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2023. They included grain; petroleum and petroleum products; and chemicals. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2023 included coal; metallic ores and metals; and nonmetallic minerals.

For the first 20 weeks of 2024, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 4,259,530 carloads, down 4.9% from the same point last year; and 5,057,135 intermodal units, up 8.5% from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 20 weeks of 2024 was 9,316,665 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 2% compared to last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending May 18, 2024, on 10 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 323,396 carloads, down 1.4% compared with the same week last year, and 346,036 intermodal units, up 4.5% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 669,432 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.6%.

North American rail volume for the first 20 weeks of 2024 was 13,150,619 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.1% compared with 2023.

Canadian railroads reported 92,669 carloads for the week, up 5.7%, and 72,537 intermodal units, down 2.6% compared with the same week in 2023. For the first 20 weeks of 2024, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,229,985 carloads, containers and trailers, up 0.9%.

Mexican railroads reported 16,635 carloads for the week, up 7.9% compared with the same week last year, and 12,705 intermodal units, up 15.8%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 20 weeks of 2024 was 603,969 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 10.9% from the same point last year.