WASHINGTON — Total carload traffic is inching toward 2019 levels as 2020 nears its conclusion, while intermodal volume continues to boost overall rail traffic above same-week levels for 2019, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads.
For the week ending Dec. 5, 2020 — the 49th week of the year — U.S. railroads moved 244,986 carloads, just 1.4% below the same week in 2019. Overall traffic was 542,203 carloads and intermodal units, a 4.8% increase over the 2019 figure, thanks to 297,217 containers and trailers moved, a 10.5% increase over a year ago.
For the year to date, total traffic remains 8.1% below 2019, with intermodal traffic down 2.9% and carload traffic down 13.6%. Among individual carload commodities, only grain (up 3%) is ahead of 2019 year-to-date totals.
Overall volume for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico was 348,727 carloads, down 1.7%, with 387,098 intermodal units, up 9.2%, for overall volume of 735,825 carloads and units, up 3.8%. Canadian carload traffic was down 2.5% versus the same week in 2019, with intermodal volume up 12.2%.
