Rail freight traffic in the United States ended its recent rally during the week ending August 16, as commodity shipments and intermodal totaled 512,970 units, down 0.7% compared with the same week a year ago.
Total volume for the week was 228,884 carloads, according to the Association of American Railroads, off 0.9% y/y, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 284,086 containers and trailers, 0.6% weaker.
Only two of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase: coal, up 2.9%, and forest products, up 2.2%.
Losers were led by metallic ores and metals, and grain, down 4.6% and 3.1%, respectively.
Through the first 33 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 7,284,620 carloads, up 2.7% y/y, and 8,902,155 intermodal units, up 4.4%. Total combined U.S. traffic was 16,186,775 carloads and intermodal units, ahead 3.6%.
Weekly volume on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 320,190 carloads, weaker by 3.8% y/y, and 365,668 intermodal units, off by 0.6%. Combined weekly North American freight totaled 685,858 carloads and intermodal units, down by 2.1%. Volume year-to-date was 22,295,900 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.6% from 2024.
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Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
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