AAR: North American Rail Volume Down 1.9% Through 46 Weeks

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Norfolk Southern GoRail and Veterans Locomotives Pulling Covered Hoppers – Inman Yard; Atlanta, Ga. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of Norfolk Southern)

Norfolk Southern GoRail and Veterans Locomotives Pulling Covered Hoppers – Inman Yard; Atlanta, Ga. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of Norfolk Southern)

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) now has 46 weeks of traffic data for 2022 (ending Nov. 19). Total North American carload and intermodal traffic dipped 1.9% from the same point last year—with decreases in the U.S. and Canada, and an increase in Mexico.

North American rail volume for the first 46 weeks of this year (ending Nov. 19, 2022) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 31,230,674 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers.

Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 22,777,602 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.5% from 2021; in Canada, 6,716,105 carloads and intermodal units, down 1.4%; and in Mexico, 1,736,967 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.7%.

Week 46 (ending Nov. 19, 2022)

According to AAR, for the week ending Nov. 19, 2022, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 491,794 carloads and intermodal units, falling 3.2% compared with the same week last year. This comprises 235,887 carloads—down 0.6% from the prior-year period—and 255,907 containers and trailers—down 5.6% compared with 2021.

Four of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase for the week ending Nov. 19, 2022 compared with the same week in 2021. They included grain, up 2,039 carloads, to 26,624; coal, up 1,766 carloads, to 66,485; and nonmetallic minerals, up 463 carloads, to 31,558. Commodity groups that posted declines included chemicals, down 3,081 carloads, to 31,074; motor vehicles and parts, down 1,030 carloads, to 13,631; and forest products, down 864 carloads, to 9,033.

For the first 46 weeks of 2022, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 10,686,013 carloads, up 0.2% from the year-ago period; and 12,091,589 intermodal units, down 4.8% from 2021.

North American rail volume for the week ending Nov. 19, 2022, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 341,621 carloads, a 3.2% gain compared with the same point in 2021, and 338,616 intermodal units, a 0.2% decrease compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 680,237 carloads and intermodal units, a 1.5% rise.

Canadian railroads reported 82,709 carloads for the week, increasing 12.8%, and 65,975 intermodal units, rising 24.8% from the same week in 2021.

Mexican railroads reported 23,025 carloads for the week, an 11.7% boost over 2021, and 16,734 intermodal units, a 9.4% gain.

Tags: , ,