AAR's U.S. Rail Freight Traffic Reports
WEEK ENDING 3-6-10: Rail freight volume on U.S. railroads is continuing to show some signs of recovery, with both carload freight and intermodal traffic during the week ended March 6 registering gains from last year, the Association of American Railroads reported. U.S. railroads originated 285,160 carloads during the week, up 3.7 percent from the comparable week in 2009, but down 11.5 percent from 2008. In order to offer a complete picture of the progress in rail traffic, AAR now reports 2010 weekly rail traffic with comparison weeks in both 2009 and 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 212,296 trailers and containers, up 17.9 percent from last year. Fourteen of 19 carload commodity groups showed gains from a year ago. [Association of American Railroads, 3-11-10]
WEEK ENDING 2-27-10: Carload freight volume on U.S. railroads reached its highest level in more than a year during the week ended February 27. U.S. railroads originated 290,261 carloads during the week ended February 27, up 2.6 percent from the comparable week in 2009 and the highest level reported since the week ended December 6, 2008. However, the total was still down 13.5 percent from comparison week in 2008. Intermodal traffic of 205,817 trailers and containers reached its highest level so far this year, up 17.5 percent from last year, but down 8.1 percent compared with 2008. Total volume for the week was estimated at 31.6 billion ton-miles, up 3.9 percent from last year but down 10.5 from 2008. Fifteen of 19 carload commodity groups showed gains from a year ago. [Association of American Railroads, 3-5-10]
WEEK ENDING 2-20-10: For the week ending Febr.20, 2010, U.S. railroads originated 273,999 carloads, down 1.6 percent compared with the same week in 2009, and down 15.3 percent from 2008. Intermodal traffic, however, was up sharply in comparison with last year, although still down from 2008. Volume of trailers and containers was up 19 percent from last year, but down 11.1 percent compared with 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 24.9 percent and trailer volume fell 5.6 percent. Twelve of the 19 carload freight commodity groups actually were up in comparison with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 2-25-10]
WEEK ENDING 2-13-10: Two major snow storms in less than one week caused a sharp drop in freight traffic on U.S. railroads during the week ended Febr.13. Railroads originated 257,823 carloads, down 8.1 percent compared with the same week in 2009, and down 19.2 percent from 2008. Intermodal traffic barely resisted the downward trend, at least in comparison with last year, totaling 192,354 trailers and containers, up 0.5 percent from a year ago, but down 12.5 percent compared with 2008. Ten of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were up in comparison with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 2-18-10]
WEEK ENDING 2-6-10: Freight traffic on U.S. railroads registered small gains in comparison with 2009 levels during the week ended Febr.6, but continued to trail levels reported in 2008, the Association of American Railroads reported. For the week ending Feb. 6, 2010, U.S. railroads originated 268,033 carloads, up 1.4 percent compared with the same week in 2009, but down 14.7 percent from 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 201,188 trailers and containers, up 5.1 percent from a year ago, but down 10.7 percent compared with 2008. Fourteen of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were up in comparison with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 2-11-10]
WEEK ENDING 1-30-10: The Association of American Railroads today reported that freight traffic continues to show some improvement compared with 2009, though down sharply compared with the same week in 2008. For the week ending Jan. 30, 2010, U.S. railroads originated 278,438 carloads, up 7.0 percent compared with the same week in 2009, but down 12.7 percent from 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 203,952 trailers and containers, up 7.5 percent from a year ago, but down 9.7 percent compared with 2008. Thirteen of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were up in comparison with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 2-4-10]
WEEK ENDING 1-23-10: The Association of American Railroads reported that freight traffic is showing slight improvement in the year over year comparison but remains down sharply when compared to 2008. For the week ending Jan. 23, 2010, U.S. railroads originated 277,420 carloads, up 3.9 percent compared with the same week in 2009 and down 11.1 percent from the same week in 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 200,807 trailers and containers, up 2.9 percent from a year ago, but down 4.4 percent from 2008. Thirteen of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were up in comparison with the same week last year, [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-28-10]
WEEK ENDING 1-16-10: For the week ending Jan. 16, 2010, U.S. railroads originated 264,030 carloads, down .8 percent compared with the same week in 2009 and down 18.5 percent from the same week in 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 201,728 trailers and containers, up 1.3 percent from a year ago, but down 12.6 percent from 2008. Total volume on U.S. railroads for the week ending Jan. 16, 2009 was estimated at 28.7 billion ton-miles, comparable with the same week last year and down 15.6 percent from 2007. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-21-10]
WEEK ENDING 1-9-10: Freight rail traffic is off to a slow start in 2010 with U.S. railroads originating 236,796 carloads for the week ending Jan. 9, 2010, down 12.4 percent compared with the same week in 2009 and down 28 percent from the same week in 2008. Intermodal traffic totaled 196,788 trailers and containers, down 3.6 percent from a year ago, but down 17.4 percent from 2008. Eleven of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were up in comparison with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-14-10]
WEEK ENDING 1-2-10: Freight rail traffic posted mixed results for the holiday week ending Jan. 2, 2010, with intermodal volume showing an increase, but carloadings remaining down in comparison to 2008. U.S. railroads reported originating 227,327 carloads, down 1.5 percent compared with the same week in 2008 and down 17.9 percent from the same week in 2007. Intermodal traffic totaled 149,128 trailers and containers, up 1.8 percent from a year ago, but down 9 percent from 2007. Thirteen of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were up in comparison with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-7-10]
WEEK ENDING 12-26-09: Intermodal volume was up but both carload freight and total volume as measured in ton-miles slipped from year-ago levels during the week ended December 26, the Association of American Railroads reported. Intermodal traffic totaled 141,699 trailers and containers, up 14.2 percent from a year ago but down 10.7 percent from 2007. Carload freight totaled 197,754 cars, down 1.1 percent from 2008 and 22.3 percent from 2007. Seventeen of the other 18 carload freight commodity groups were up compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-30-09]
WEEK ENDING 12-19-09: Total freight volume on U.S. railroads edged ahead of 2008 levels for the week ended December 19, the Association of American Railroads reported. However, volume remained sharply below levels reported during the comparable 2007 week. Total volume was estimated at 30.4 billion ton-miles, up 0.3 percent from the comparable 2008 week, but down 11.6 percent from the comparable 2007 week. Eleven of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were up compared with the same week last year. For the first 50 weeks of 2009, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 13,389,380 carloads, down 16.5 percent from 2008. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-23-09]
WEEK ENDING 12-12-09: The Association of American Railroads reports that freight rail traffic remains down for the week ending Dec.12, 2009. U.S. railroads reported originating 261,933 carloads, down 10.2 percent compared with the same week in 2008 and down 18.5 percent from the same week in 2007. Intermodal traffic totaled 204,950 trailers and containers, down 3 percent from a year ago and 14.3 percent from 2007. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume rose 3.6 percent and trailer volume dropped 24.5 percent. Twelve of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-17-09]
WEEK ENDING 12-5-09: The Association of American Railroads reported that freight rail traffic showed improvement in the post Thanksgiving holiday week ending Dec. 5, 2009. U.S. railroads reported originating 284,177 carloads, down 5.4 percent compared with the same week in 2008 and down 13.3 percent from the same week in 2007. Intermodal traffic totaled 207,242 trailers and containers, down 4.2 percent from a year ago and 13.6 percent from 2007. Ten of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-10-09]
WEEK ENDING 11-28-09: The Association of American Railroads reported that freight rail traffic was down for the Thanksgiving holiday week ended Nov.28, 2009. U.S. railroads reported originating 246,133 carloads for the week, down 3.9 percent compared with the same week in 2008 and down 29.3 percent from the same week in 2007. The comparison week from 2008 included the Thanksgiving Holiday, while the 2007 comparison week did not. Intermodal traffic totaled 165,856 trailers and containers, down 6.4 percent from a year ago and 32.1 percent from 2007. Ten of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-3-09]
WEEK ENDING 11-21-09: Freight traffic on U.S. railroads reached its highest level so far this year during the week ended November 21, the Association of American Railroads reported. U.S. railroads reported originating 287,087 carloads for the week, down 6.8 percent compared with the same week in 2008 and down .7 percent from the same week in 2007. Volume was up 2.1 percent from the previous week this year. Intermodal traffic totaled 213,382 trailers and containers, down 3.1 percent from a year ago but up 11.5 percent from 2007. Intermodal traffic was up 2.6 percent from the previous week this year. Thirteen of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-25-09]
WEEK ENDING 11-14-09: The Association of American Railroads reports that freight rail traffic was down for the holiday week ended Nov. 14, 2009. U.S. railroads reported originating 281,218 carloads for the week, down 8.9 percent compared with the same week in 2008 and down 17 percent from the same week in 2007. Intermodal traffic totaled 208,056 trailers and containers, down 7.7 percent from a year ago and 15 percent from 2007. Thirteen of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-19-09]
WEEK ENDING 11-7-09: The Association of American Railroads reports that freight rail traffic remains down for the week ended Nov. 7, 2009. U.S. railroads reported originating 274,846 carloads for the week, down 12.2 percent compared with the same week in 2008 and down 19.6 percent from the same week in 2007. Intermodal traffic showed incremental improvement from Week 43, totaling 206,890 trailers and containers, down 9.5 percent from a year ago and 15.2 percent from 2007. Fifteen of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-12-09]
WEEK ENDING 10-31-09: The Association of American Railroads said that freight rail traffic remains down for the week ended Oct. 31, 2009. U.S. railroads reported originating 275,439 carloads for the week, down 13.7 percent compared with the same week in 2008, and down 18.2 percent from 2007. Intermodal traffic totaled 203,860 trailers and containers, down 11.1 percent from a year ago and 15.5 percent from 2007. Fifteen of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down compared with the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-5-09]
WEEK ENDING 10-24-09: The Association of American Railroads said that rail traffic remains down year over year for the week ended Oct. 24, 2009. U.S railroads reported originating 276,357 carloads, down 14.8 percent compared with the same week in 2008 and 17.3 percent from 2007. Intermodal traffic totaled 207,401 trailers or containers, down 10.1 percent from a year ago and 14.5 percent from 2007. Seventeen of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down from the same week last year. [Assn. of American Railroads, 10-29-09]
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