For the 29-week period ending July 20, 2024, North American rail volume on 10 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads was 19,112,113 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers. Cumulative volume in the U.S. came in at 13,598,190 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.2% from the same point in 2023; in Canada, 4,654,977 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.9%; and in Mexico, 858,946 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.5%.
U.S Class I railroads moved a total of 480,083 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending July 20, 2024, a 1.4% increase from the same week last year, according to the AAR. This comprised 214,348 carloads, down 3.4% from 2023, and 265,735 containers and trailers, up 5.8% from 2023. The past two weeks were similar:
- For the week ending July 13, 2024, U.S. rail traffic was up 1.3% from the same week last year, with U.S. Class I’s moving 215,400 carloads, down 4.3%, and 268,406 containers and trailers, up 6.3%.
- For the week ending July 6, 2024, U.S. rail traffic was up 3.3% from last year, with U.S. Class I’s hauling 195,030 carloads, down 1.2%, and 226,787 containers and trailers, up 7.6%.
Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2023. They included grain, up 2,387 carloads, to 17,300; petroleum and petroleum products, up 1,591 carloads, to 10,745; and farm products excluding grain, and food, up 1,413 carloads, to 16,880. Commodity groups that posted declines included coal, down 6,278 carloads, to 57,906; nonmetallic minerals, down 3,825 carloads, to 30,758; and motor vehicles and parts, down 2,175 carloads, to 12,466.
For the first 29 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,194,152 carloads, a 4.4% drop-off from the prior-year period; and 7,404,038 intermodal units, an 8.4% rise over last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending July 20, 2024, on 10 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 317,607 carloads, dipping 4.1% from the same week last year, and 346,231 intermodal units, gaining 3.9% over last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 663,838 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.1%.
Canadian railroads logged 86,987 carloads for the week ending July 20, 2024, falling 3.3%, and 68,443 intermodal units, decreasing 0.6% compared with year-earlier period.
For the week ending July 20, 2024, Mexican railroads reported 16,272 carloads, dropping 15.9% from the same week last year, and 12,053 intermodal units, falling 7.0%.
Further Reading:
- AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 28
- AAR: Carloads Down, Intermodal Up in Week 27
- AAR: Rail Traffic ‘Balanced’ Through June; New Report Launching July 8
- AAR: Carloads Down, Intermodal Up in Week 25
- AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 24
- AAR: Carloads Down, Intermodal Up in Week 23
- Will Intermodal, Petroleum Carry the Day for Railroads?
- AAR: Decreased Coal Shipments Cause U.S. Rail Declines in April
- Intermodal: March’s ‘Bright Spot,’ AAR Reports
- AAR: February Data Shows Elements That ‘Inspire Optimism, Call for Caution’
- AAR: ‘January Not Necessarily a Harbinger of What’s to Come’
