Carload and intermodal volumes were mixed for the week ending October 5, according to data released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Carload volume—at 279,128—was down 1.6 percent annually and below the week ending September 28 at 296,809 and the week ending September 21 at 288,160.
Intermodal—at 266,580 trailers and containers, which was up 6.2 percent compared to a year ago and below the week ending September 28 at 269,853 and ahead of the week ending September 21 at 262,897.
Total weekly traffic for carloads and intermodal units—at 545,708—was up 2.1 percent annually.
Of the ten main commodity groups tracked by the AAR, seven saw annual increases. Motor vehicles and parts were up 12.3 percent, and metallic ores and minerals were up 10.1 percent.
On a year-to-date basis, carloads are down 0.9 percent at 11,219,666, and intermodal is up 3.7 percent at 9,814,34 containers and trailers.