United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending May 22, saw annual gains, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads—at 242,227—increased 27.2% annually, just below the 242,806 reported for the week ending May 15 and ahead of the week ending May 8, at 236,019.
AAR reported that each of the ten carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: coal, up 17,877 carloads, to 64,641; motor vehicles and parts, up 8,887 carloads, to 13,763; and metallic ores and metals, up 8,697 carloads, to 23,516.
Intermodal containers and trailers—at 286,547—saw a 20.4% annual gain, trailing the weeks ending May 15 and May 8, at 291,066 and 287,290, respectively.
Through the first 20 weeks of 2021, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads—at 4,583,989 carloads—are up 6.2% annually, and intermodal units—at 5,658,401—are up 18.6%.