Weekly U.S. rail traffic shows major bump

Weekly U.S. rail traffic shows major bump

By Trains Staff | November 27, 2024

Date of Thanksgiving creates significant reporting difference from 2023

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type, plus overall intermodal volume
Association of American Railroads

WASHINGTON — Likely because of the difference in where the Thanksgiving holiday falls this year, weekly U.S. rail traffic shows a major volume increase for the week ending Nov. 23, 2024.

Total weekly traffic was 520,798 carloads and intermodal units, a 25.6% increase over the same week last year — when Thanksgiving was on Nov. 23, the last day of the reporting week. That includes 230,036 carloads, up 17.6% from a year ago, and 290,762 containers and trailers, up 32.8%.

Through 47 weeks of 2024, carload traffic is down 2.7% compared to the same period in 2024, while intermodal volume is up 9.5%. Overall, total traffic is up 3.6%.

North American volume for the week, from nine reporting U.S, Canadian, and Mexican railroads is 338,963 carloads, up 13.2% compared to last year, and 372,927 intermodal units, up 25.1%. The overall volume of 711,890 carloads and intermodal units represents a 19.1% increase. Through 47 weeks, overall North American volume s up 2.5% compared to 2023. That includes a 0.7% decline in Canadian traffic and a 2.9% gain in Mexico.

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