AAR reports annual volume gains for week ending September 22
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported this week that United States rail carload and intermodal volumes were up annually for the week ending September 22.
Rail carloads, at 272,615, were up 4.9%, which topped the week ending September 15 at 268,612 and trailed the week ending September 8 at 248,391.
AAR reported that seven of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains for the week ending September 22, including petroleum and petroleum products, up 3,934 carloads, to 13,131; grain, up 3,689 carloads, to 23,297; and coal, up 3,490 carloads, to 87,890. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2017 were metallic ores and metals, down 1,241 carloads, to 24,132; nonmetallic minerals, down 882 carloads, to 38,505; and motor vehicles and parts, down 822 carloads, to 17,001.
Intermodal containers and trailers, at 294,463, headed up 5.7% annually, which was ahead of the week ending September 15 at 284,391 and the week ending September 8 at 248,951.
Through the first 38 weeks of 2018, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 9,976,253 carloads, which is up 2% annually, while intermodal units rose 6% to 10,532,388.
