ARCI 1Q Freight Cars: Orders Up but Deliveries, Backlog Down
For the three-months ending March 31, 2025, orders came in at 5,085 railcars, up 13% from fourth-quarter 2024’s 4,520 and down 15% from first-quarter 2024’s 5,864. Deliveries were 7,810 units, down 22% from fourth-quarter 2024’s 9,999 and down 30% from first-quarter 2024. Backlog for this year’s first quarter was 31,548, decreasing 8% sequentially and 47% year-over-year (see chart below).
The RSI ARCI prepares and distributes statistics on North American freight car orders, deliveries and backlogs to its affiliate members each financial quarter. These statistics include information on covered hoppers (over 5500 c/f, 3500-5500 c/f, under 3500 c/f); open top hoppers (steel, aluminum); gondolas (GB steel, GT steel, GT aluminum); flat cars (non-intermodal, intermodal); non-articulated/articulated (five-unit platforms, other platforms); and tank cars.
Subscribers to the ARCI program have access to more detailed data, by car type, including pressure and non-pressure tank cars, several categories of covered hopper cars, as well as several other car types including boxcars, flats and gondolas. Visit the RSI website to learn more about accessing the statistics.
