AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Uptick Continues in Week 40

For the week ending Oct. 7, 2023 (Week 40), total U.S. rail traffic was 499,217 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.0% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Oct. 11. It is the fourth consecutive week of gains for carloads and intermodal units.

Total carloads for the week ending Oct. 7, 2023, were 233,768 carloads, rising 3.6% compared with the same week last year, and U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 265,449 containers and trailers, increasing 2.5% compared with 2022.

The week ending Sept. 30, 2023 (Week 39) saw similar results. U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 500,154 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.8% compared with the same week in 2022. This comprises 235,988 carloads—up 3.7% from the year-earlier period—and 264,166 containers and trailers—up 2.0% compared with 2022.

According to AAR, for the week ending Oct. 7, 2023, seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2022. They included motor vehicles and parts, up 2,618 carloads, to 16,495; grain, up 1,403 carloads, to 23,235; and petroleum and petroleum products, up 1,326 carloads, to 10,139. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2022 were miscellaneous carloads, down 440 carloads, to 8,745; farm products excl. grain, and food, down 124 carloads, to 16,461; and forest products, down 1 carload, to 7,937.

For the first 40 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 9,008,598 carloads, up 0.4% from the same point last year; and 9,594,783 intermodal units, down 7.9% from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 40 weeks of 2023 was 18,603,381 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 4.1% compared to last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending October 7, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 346,637 carloads, up 2.6% compared with the same week last year, and 349,627 intermodal units, down 1.5% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 696,264 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.5%. North American rail volume for the first 40 weeks of 2023 was 26,066,184 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.6% compared with 2022.

Canadian railroads reported 96,488 carloads for the week, up 2.6%, and 72,277 intermodal units, down 11.8% compared with the same week in 2022. For the first 40 weeks of 2023, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 6,344,008 carloads, containers and trailers, down 3.4%

Mexican railroads reported 16,381 carloads for the week, down 10.2% compared with the same week last year, and 11,901 intermodal units, down 15.4%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 40 weeks of 2023 was 1,118,795 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 3.4% from the same point last year.