November 22, 2023
Class I

AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 46 Weeks

Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor

CN photo

Through the first 46 weeks of 2023 (ending Nov. 18), total North American carload and intermodal traffic decreased 3.1% from the same point last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Nov. 22. Both the U.S. and Canada experienced declines, while Mexico saw a gain.

North American rail volume for the first 46 weeks of this year (ending Nov. 18) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads was 30,221,325 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers. Cumulative volume in the U.S. came in at 21,585,007 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.4% from 2022; in Canada, 7,340,071 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.3%; and in Mexico, 1,296,247 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.1%.

For the week ending Nov. 18, 2023, U.S. Class I railroads moved a total of 501,416 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.0% from the prior-year period, according to the AAR. This comprises 237,416 carloads—up 3.8% from 2022—and 264,000 containers and trailers—up 4.1% compared with last year.

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2022. They included coal, up 3,185 carloads, to 69,630; chemicals, up 2,519 carloads, to 32,295; and motor vehicles and parts, up 1,632 carloads, to 15,260. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2022 were grain, down 475 carloads, to 24,483; miscellaneous carloads, down 442 carloads, to 7,588; and metallic ores and metals, down 68 carloads, to 20,837.

For the first 46 weeks of 2023, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 10,391,997 carloads, up 0.2% from the same point last year; and 11,193,010 intermodal units, down 6.5% from 2022.

North American rail volume for the week ending Nov. 18, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 351,368 carloads, up 3.8% from the prior-year period, and 343,001 intermodal units, up 1.7% from 2022. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 694,369 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.8%.

Canadian railroads reported 98,560 carloads for the week ending Nov. 18, 2023, up 3.7%, and 66,904 intermodal units, an 8.8% decline from the same week last year.