United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending November 5, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads—at 243,276—saw a 3.2% annual increase, trailing thew week ending October 29—at 244,425—and topping the week ending October 22—at 237,456. AAR reported that seven of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: nonmetallic minerals, up 3,499 carloads, to 34,129; motor vehicles and parts, up 2,515 carloads, to 14,510; and coal, up 1,416 carloads, to 68,303. Commodity groups posting annual declines included: chemicals, down 1,081 carloads, to 32,803; miscellaneous carloads, down 249 carloads, to 9,344; and forest products, down 238 carloads, to 9,325.
Intermodal containers and trailers—at 258,830 units—fell 3.6% annually, trailing the weeks ending October 29 and October 22, at 270,032 and 267,866, respectively.
Through the first 44 weeks of 2022, AAR reported that U.S. carloads—at 10,214,652—are up 0.2% compared to the same period a year ago, and intermodal units—at 11,580,806—are off 4.7%.
North American rail volume for the week ending November 5, 2022, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 346,035 carloads, up 2.9% compared with the same week last year, and 342,343 intermodal units, down 4.1% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 688,378 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.7%. North American rail volume for the first 44 weeks of 2022 was 29,879,757 carloads and intermodal units, down 2% compared with 2021.