WASHINGTON — Carloads were up and intermodal traffic was down in August, compared to the same month in 2020, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads.
The month saw U.S. railroads originiate 934,762 carloads in August, an increase of 36,815, or 4.1%, over 2020. The 1,085,345 containers and trailers moved in the month, however, represented a decrease of 37,603 units, or 3.3%.
“Rail traffic is navigating many of the same challenges plaguing other supply chain participants, including chassis and container shortages at ports; shortages of drayage truck drivers; port congestion; insufficient warehouse capacity at many locations; and now, weather problems in the Gulf” AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray said in a press release. “Faced with this, railroads are working hard, in cooperation with other stakeholders, to keep the national rail network fluid.”
Carload traffic saw increases in 14 of 20 commodities. The exceptions included grain, down 17.5%, and motor vehicles and parts, down 16.5%.
Year-to-date totals, through 34 weeks, show total traffic up 10.8% over 2020. That includes a 12.7% increase in intermodal traffic and 8.4% increase in carloads.
Weekly traffic down slightly
Statistics for the week ending Aug. 28 showed U.S. railroads moved 504,417 carloads and intermodal units, a 0.7% decrease from the same week in 2020. It was, however, a slight increase over the previous week in 2021, when railroads moved a total of 501,273 carloads and intermodal units.
The weekly totals included 269,756 containers and trailers, down 4.6%, and 234,661 carloads, up 4.1% compared to the same week in 2020.
North American totals for the 12 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads were 686,778 carloads and intermodal units, down 1%. The 330,432 carloads were a 3.2% increase, while the 356,346 intermodal units were down 4.6%. In Canada, the 74,515 carloads were a 1.95 increase, while the 71,918 intermodal units were a 2.1% decrease.
