AAR reports carload and intermodal volumes stay up for week ending November 13

Railroad volumes for the week ending November 13 were up year-over-year, according to data released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Carload volume at 297,269 was up 5.8 percent compared to the same week last year and ahead of the week of November 6, which came in at 288,056. Carload volumes were in the same ballpark as the weeks ending October 30, October 23, and October 16, which hit 292,884, 302,855, and 303,664, respectively.

Carload volume in the East was up 2.4 percent year-over-year. Out West, carloads were up 8 percent year-over-year.

Even though railroad volumes are in recovery mode compared to a difficult 2009, current volumes are still below peak levels, and annual gains occurring in 2010 are against a 2009 which has been described as the worst year for railroad traffic since deregulation, according to industry analysts.

Intermodal volumes at 232,888 were up 11.9 percent year-over-year. This is ahead of the week ending November 6 at 231,078. And it is in line with the weeks ending October 30, October 23, and October 16 at 232,717, 235,606, and 232,272, respectively.

The high intermodal mark for 2010 to date is the week ending September 25 at 241,167. Container volume for the week ending November 13 at 196,596 is up 12.8 percent, and trailer volume at 36,596 is up 7.5 percent, according to AAR data.

Domestic intermodal volumes on the container side are continuing to outpace the overall economic recovery in conjunction with intermodal shipments gaining share over other modes of freight transportation, according to a recent report by the Intermodal Association of North America.

Of the 19 carload commodities tracked by the AAR, 16 were up year-over-year. Metallic ores were up 164.7 percent, coke up 30.1 percent, and metals and products up 23.9 percent.

Year-to-date, total U.S. carload volumes at 12,909,986 carloads are up 7.2 percent year-over-year. Trailers or containers at 9,828,447 are up 14.5 percent year-over-year.
Estimated ton-miles for the week ending November 13 came in at 33.9 billion for a 6.9 percent annual gain. Total volume year-to-date at 1,427.3 billion ton-miles was up 8.4 percent year-over-year.