AAR reports annual carload and intermodal gains for week ending September 8
United States rail carload and intermodal volumes saw annual gains for the week ending September 8, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported this week.
Rail carloads, at 253,293, were up 2.6% compared to the same week last year. This was below the weeks ending September 1 and August 25 at 280,336 and 275,334, respectively.
AAR said that nine of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks were up annually, including: petroleum and petroleum products, up 3,724 carloads, to 11,649; grain, up 2,657 carloads, to 20,019; and nonmetallic minerals, up 2,419 carloads, to 35,209. One commodity group posted a decrease compared with the same week in 2017: coal, down 6,877 carloads, to 85,466.
Intermodal containers and trailers, at 248,915, increased 5.8% annually. This trailed the weeks ending September 1 and August 25 at 287,515 and 290,372, respectively.
AAR said that through the first 36 weeks of 2018 U.S. rail carloads, at 9,435,026, are up 1.9% annually, and intermodal units are up 6% at 9,953,534.
