WASHINGTON — Intermodal volume continues to carry overall weekly U.S. rail traffic to an increase over 2023 levels, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads.
For the week ending Sept. 21, total U.S. traffic was 522,112 carloads and intermodal units, a 6% increase over the same week a year ago. That figure includes 232,818 carloads, down 0.6% from the corresponding week in 2023, and 289,294 containers and trailers, up 12%. It is the sixth straight week of increases of 6% or more.
Through 38 weeks of 2024, carload traffic is down 3.3% from the same period a year ago, while intermodal traffic is up 9.6%, for an overall traffic gain of 3.3%.
North American volume for the week, from nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, includes 339,514 carloads, down 2.3% from the same week a year ago, and 371,529 intermodal units, up 8%. The overall volume of 711,043 carloads and intermodal units represents a 2.3% gain from the corresponding week in 2023. For the year to date, overall volume is up 2.6%. That includes a gain of 0.1% in Canada and 4.4% in Mexico.
