U.S., Canadian Intermodal Continues Recent Downward Trend
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Dec. 18, 2021was 504,099 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.1% compared with the same week last year, based on 234,704 carloads—up 1.7% compared with the same week in 2020—and intermodal volume of 269,395 containers and trailers—down 6.9%, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on Dec. 22.
Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2020. They included nonmetallic minerals, up 4,249 carloads, to 30,089; coal, up 2,762 carloads, to 65,021; and chemicals, up 929 carloads, to 34,212. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2020 were motor vehicles and parts, down 3,301 carloads, to 12,468; grain, down 1,708 carloads, to 24,159; and petroleum and petroleum products, down 1,302 carloads, to 10,398.
For the first 50 weeks of 2021, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 11,603,216 carloads, up 6.7% from the same point last year; and 13,733,756 intermodal units, up 5.3% from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 50 weeks of 2021 was 25,336,972 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 5.9% compared to last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending Dec. 18, 2021, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 331,416 carloads, down 1.1% compared with the same week last year, and 349,986 intermodal units, down 7% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 681,402 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.3%. North American rail volume for the first 50 weeks of 2021 was 34,480,405 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.8% compared with 2020.
Canadian railroads reported 76,466 carloads for the week, down 9.7%, and 65,863 intermodal units, down 9.8% compared with the same week in 2020. For the first 50 weeks of 2021, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 7,323,349 carloads, containers and trailers, up 1%.
Mexican railroads reported 20,246 carloads for the week, up 3.3% compared with the same week last year, and 14,728 intermodal units, up 5%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 50 weeks of 2021 was 1,820,084 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 4.3% from the same point last year.
