U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes start 2019 with gains, reports AAR

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes started the year with higher annual volumes, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads, at 221,759, saw a 6.2% annual increase, which topped the week ending December 29 at 210,333.

AAR reported that eight of the ten carload commodity groups posted an annual increase, including: nonmetallic minerals, up 3,791 carloads, to 25,665; metallic ores and metals, up 2,619 carloads, to 21,738; and petroleum and petroleum products, up 2,413 carloads, to 12,057. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2018 were motor vehicles and parts, down 1,261 carloads, to 9,213; and miscellaneous carloads, down 294 carloads, to 7,251.

Intermodal containers and trailers, at 214,344 units, increased 3.4% compared to the same week a year ago. This was ahead of the 201,343 units for the week ending December 29.

The AAR recently reported that for 2018, U.S. rail carload volume, at 13,640,641, was up 1.8% over 2017, and intermodal units increased 5.5% over 2017 to 14,472,849 units.