North American Rail Volume Down 2.1% Through 42 Weeks, AAR

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) now has 42 weeks of traffic data for 2022 (ending Oct. 22). Total North American carload and intermodal traffic dipped 2.1% 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 42 weeks of this year (ending Oct. 22, 2022) on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads came in at 28,486,912 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers.

Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 20,778,895 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.6% from 2021; in Canada, 6,122,692 carloads and intermodal units, down 1.8%; and in Mexico, 1,585,325 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.9%.

According to AAR, for the week ending Oct. 22, 2022, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 505,322 carloads and intermodal units, decreasing 1.1% compared with the same week last year. This comprises 237,456 carloads—down 0.7% from the prior-year period—and 267,866 containers and trailers—down 1.4% compared with 2021.

For the week ending Oct. 22, 2022, five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same point in 2021. They included coal, up 3,282 carloads, to 68,889; motor vehicles and parts, up 1,271 carloads, to 14,671; and nonmetallic minerals, up 1,078 carloads, to 32,565. Commodity groups that posted decreases included metallic ores and metals, down 3,510 carloads, to 19,673; grain, down 1,853 carloads, to 24,053; and miscellaneous carloads, down 1,535 carloads, to 9,502.

For the first 42 weeks of 2022, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 9,726,951 carloads, up 0.1% from the prior-year period; and 11,051,944 intermodal units, down 4.9% from last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending Oct. 22, 2022, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 345,255 carloads, up 1.5% from the same week last year, and 354,282 intermodal units, down 1.3% from 2021. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 699,537 carloads and intermodal units, flat with the prior-year period.

Canadian railroads reported 85,842 carloads for the week, rising 8.3%, and 69,101 intermodal units, falling 2.4% from the same week in 2021.

Mexican railroads reported 21,957 carloads for the week, up 0.9% from the same point last year, and 17,315 intermodal units, up 3.5%.