April 20, 2022
Class I

North American Rail Volume Down Through 15 Weeks, AAR

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) now has 15 weeks of rail traffic data for 2022 (ending April 16). Total carload and intermodal traffic dipped 3.9% in North America—falling 2.9% in the U.S. and 8.5% in Canada, and rising 1.4% in Mexico from the same point in 2021.

North American rail volume for the first 15 weeks of 2022 (ending April 16) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 9,987,458 carloads and intermodal units compared with 10,389,949 in 2021. Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 7,355,182 carloads and intermodal units vs. 7,577,584 in 2021; in Canada, 2,083,303 carloads, containers and trailers vs. 2,275,481 in 2021; and in Mexico, 548,973 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers vs. 536,884 in 2021.

According to the AAR, for the week ending April 16, 2022, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 489,801 carloads and intermodal units, down 8.1% compared with the same week last year. This comprises 221,228 carloads—down 6.8% from the prior-year period—and 268,573 containers and trailers—down 9.2% compared with 2021.

It is the eighth consecutive week that traffic has declined.

Two of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase vs. the same week in 2021. They were chemicals, up 849 carloads, to 33,090; and coal, up 2 carloads, to 61,550. Commodity groups that posted declines included grain, down 6,632 carloads, to 19,602; metallic ores and metals, down 4,136 carloads, to 20,638; and petroleum and petroleum products, down 2,358 carloads, to 8,466.

For the first 15 weeks of 2022, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,444,827 carloads, up 1.9% from the same point last year; and 3,910,355 intermodal units, down 6.8% from last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending April 16, 2022, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 319,064 carloads, down 6.8% vs. the same week last year, and 354,060 intermodal units, down 8.1% vs. last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 673,124 carloads and intermodal units, down 7.5%.