April 19, 2023
Class I

AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 15 Weeks

Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor

For the first 15 weeks of 2023 (ending April 15), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 3.9% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) April 19 report. Both Canada and Mexico saw increases, while the U.S. experienced a decline.

North American rail volume for the first 15 weeks of the year (ending April 15) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 9,601,378 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers. Cumulative volume in Canada was 2,097,986 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.7%; in Mexico, 566,804 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.4%; and in the U.S. 6,936,588 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.7%.

According to the AAR, for the week ending April 15, 2023, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 468,197 carloads, falling 4.4% compared with the same week last year. This comprises 234,066 carloads—up 5.8% from the prior-year period—and 234,131 containers and trailers—down 12.8% compared with 2022.

Eight of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2022. They included nonmetallic minerals, up 3,445 carloads, to 33,677; motor vehicles and parts, up 2,408 carloads, to 14,871; and metallic ores and metals, up 2,195 carloads, to 22,835. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2022 were miscellaneous carloads, down 668 carloads, to 8,714; and forest products, down 272 carloads, to 9,311.

For the first 15 weeks of 2023, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,453,227 carloads, up 0.2% from the same point last year; and 3,483,361 intermodal units, down 10.9% from last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending April 15, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 339,933 carloads, up 6.0% compared with the same week last year, and 311,134 intermodal units, down 12.3% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 651,067 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.6%.