December 13, 2023
Class I

North American Rail Volume Decline Continues Through Week 49: AAR

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor

(Norfolk Southern Photograph)

Through the first 49 weeks of 2023 (ending Dec. 9), total North American carload and intermodal traffic fell 2.8% from the same period last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Dec. 13. The U.S. and Canada saw declines, while Mexico experienced a gain.

North American rail volume for the first 49 weeks of this year (ending Dec. 9) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 32,202,281 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers. Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 23,009,059 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.0% from 2022; in Canada, 7,833,834 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.1%; and in Mexico, 1,359,388 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.6%.

For the week ending Dec. 9, 2023, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 499,094 carloads and intermodal units, rising 1.7% from the prior-year period, according to the AAR. This comprises 229,424 carloads, down 2.5% from 2022, and 269,670 containers and trailers, up 5.5% compared with last year.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase for the week ending Dec. 9, 2023, compared with the same week last year. They included motor vehicles and parts, up 2,430 carloads, to 17,486; chemicals, up 1,850 carloads, to 30,948; and metallic ores and metals, up 1,189 carloads, to 20,622. Commodity groups that posted decreases included coal, down 5,641 carloads, to 66,911; nonmetallic minerals, down 3,165 carloads, to 28,980; and grain, down 1,834 carloads, to 20,701.

U.S. railroads for the first 49 weeks of 2023 reported cumulative volume of 11,054,418 carloads, up 0.1%, and 11,954,641 intermodal units, down 5.8% from the year-ago period.

North American rail volume for the week ending Dec. 9, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 338,908 carloads, dipping 2.4% from the same point last year, and 352,675 intermodal units, increasing 3.8% from last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 691,583 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.6%.

For the week ending Dec. 9, 2023, Canadian railroads reported 93,684 carloads, up 1.0%, and 70,668 intermodal units, down 1.3% compared with the same point last year.

For the week ending Dec. 9, 2023, Mexican railroads reported 15,800 carloads, dropping 18.3% compared with the same week last year, and 12,337 intermodal units, decreasing 2.4%.