September 14, 2022
Class I

North American Rail Volume Down Through 36 Weeks, AAR

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor

(Photograph Courtesy of NS)

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) now has 36 weeks of traffic data for 2022 (ending Sept. 10). Total North American carload and intermodal traffic dipped 2.4% from the same point last year—with decreases in the U.S. and Canada, and an increase in Mexico.

North American rail volume for the first 36 weeks of this year (ending Sept. 10) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 24,341,405 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers.

Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 17,803,223 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.7% from 2021; in Canada, 5,195,334 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.5%; and in Mexico, 1,342,848 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.7%.

According to AAR, for the week ending Sept. 10, 2022, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 464,261 carloads and intermodal units, decreasing 0.9% compared with the same week last year. This comprises 223,384 carloads—down 0.2% from the prior-year period—and 240,877 containers and trailers—down 1.7% compared with 2021.

For the week ending Sept. 10, 2022, five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase vs. the same week in 2021. They included motor vehicles and parts, up 3,251 carloads, to 13,373; grain, up 1,495 carloads, to 18,214; and farm products excluding grain, and food, up 720 carloads, to 15,695. Commodity groups that posted declines included metallic ores and metals, down 2,451 carloads, to 19,937; coal, down 2,432 carloads, to 67,492; and miscellaneous carloads, down 1,595 carloads, to 8,265.

For the first 36 weeks of 2022, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 8,314,096 carloads, up 0.2% from the same point last year; and 9,489,127 intermodal units, down 5.1% from last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending Sept. 10, 2022, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 321,989 carloads, up 2% compared with the same week last year, and 323,856 intermodal units, up 1% vs. 2021. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 645,845 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.5%.

Canadian railroads reported 76,704 carloads for the week, a 3.7% increase, and 67,703 intermodal units, a 7.9% gain compared with the same week in 2021.