AAR reports February U.S. carload declines and intermodal gains

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes were mixed in February, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads, at 885,548, fell 1.3%, or 11,410 carloads, annually, said AAR. When excluding coal, carloads were up 20,502 carloads, or 3.3%, annually, and when excluding coal and grain, carloads were up 15,531 carloads, or 2.8%.

AAR reported that 13 of the 20 carload commodity it tracks saw annual gains, including: motor vehicles & parts, up 6,777 carloads or 12.3%; chemicals, up 6,522 carloads or 5.1%; and grain, up 4,971 carloads or 6.3%. Commodities with annual declines included: coal, down 31,912 carloads or 11.7%; crushed stone, sand & gravel, down 8,037 carloads or 10.1%; and nonmetallic minerals, down 1,467 carloads or 12.7%.

Intermodal containers and trailers, at 1,040,312 containers and trailers, rose 10.9% annually, or 102,140 units, in February.

“In February, U.S. rail traffic recovered from disruptions caused by severe winter weather in January. However, a closer look at February’s rail traffic data shows elements that inspire optimism and elements that call for caution,” said Dr. Rand Ghayad, Chief Economist at the Association of American Railroads. “Intermodal volumes have consistently grown over the past six months, signaling increased confidence among consumers and retailers. At the same time, carloads of industrial products remain below levels from last spring and summer, reflecting ongoing challenges in the industrial sector.”

Through the first two months of 2024, AAR reported that total U.S. carload traffic, at 1,910,716 carloads, is down 4.6 percent, or 91,135 carloads, annually; and intermodal, at 2,246,326 containers and trailers, is up 7.9%, or 165,335 units.

For the week ending March 2, AAR said that U.S. rail carloads, at 220,406, fell 4.3% annually, and intermodal units, at 263,732, increased 12.0%.