AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 14

(CN Photograph)

Through the first 14 weeks of 2024 (ending April 6), total North American carload and intermodal traffic rose 2.2% from the same point last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported April 10. The U.S. and Mexico experienced gains, while Canada saw a decline.

North American rail volume for the first 14 weeks of this year on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 9,127,511 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers. Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 6,492,616 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.5% from 2023; in Mexico, 415,960 carloads and intermodal units, up 11.7%; and in Canada, 2,218,935 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.1%.

For the week ending April 6, 2024, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 450,142 carloads and intermodal units, increasing 1.6% from the prior-year period, according to the AAR. This comprises 209,142 carloads, down 4.5% from 2023, and 241,000 containers and trailers, up 7.6% compared with 2023.

Six of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase for the week ending April 6, 2024, vs. the prior-year period. They included grain, up 3,221 carloads, to 22,000; motor vehicles and parts, up 1,983 carloads, to 16,315; and chemicals, up 1,574 carloads, to 31,907. Commodity groups that posted decreases included coal, down 15,107 carloads, to 46,688; nonmetallic minerals, down 2,078 carloads, to 29,540; and metallic ores and metals, down 848 carloads, to 19,403.

For the first 14 weeks of 2024, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,982,969 carloads, down 4.2% from the same period last year; and 3,509,647 intermodal units, up 9.0% from last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending April 6, 2024, on 10 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 321,182 carloads, a 1.3% decrease from the same week last year, and 326,417 intermodal units, an 11.2% gain over last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 647,599 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.6%.

Canadian railroads reported 95,326 carloads for the week ending April 6, 2024, rising 5.5%, and 72,636 intermodal units, increasing 12.7% from the same week last year.

For the week ending April 6, 2024, Mexican railroads reported 16,714 carloads, up 3.6% from the year-earlier period, and 12,781 intermodal units, up 146.5%.