Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Intermodal Rail Traffic Hits New Record High

The Association of American Railroads said Thursday for the week ending Nov. 29, U.S. railroad intermodal volume totaled 220,873 units, up 6.2% compared with the same week last year and the highest level on record.

by Staff
December 5, 2014
Intermodal Rail Traffic Hits New Record High

Photo: Jim Park

2 min to read


Photo: Jim Park

New figures show intermodal rail freight traffic continued surging last week hitting a record high, while major railroads in November posted another year-over-year increase in total traffic.

The Association of American Railroads said Thursday for the week ending Nov. 29, U.S. railroad intermodal volume totaled 220,873 units, up 6.2% compared with the same week last year and the highest level on record. Total U.S. rail traffic for the week was 492,532 carloads and intermodal units, up 6.2% compared with the same week last year.

Ad Loading...

For all of November the group reported U.S. intermodal rail traffic for Class I railroads totaled 1,035,054 containers and trailers, up 2.7%, or 27,463 units, over November 2013. The weekly average volume was 258,764 for the month, the highest for any November in history.

U.S. rail traffic for November, which includes both carload and intermodal volume, increased compared with November 2013. U.S. Class I railroads originated 1,161,820 carloads, up 1.4%, or 16,396 carloads, over November 2013, the ninth straight month of year-over-year increases in carloads, according to AAR.

In November, combined U.S. carload and intermodal rail originations were 2,196,874 units, up 43,859 units, or 2% over November 2013. The weekly average total volume of 549,219 units in November was the highest weekly average total for November since 2007.

Ad Loading...

For the first 11 months of 2014, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 13,992,560 carloads, up 3.4% from the same point last year, and 12,494,133 intermodal rail units, up 5.2% from last year. Total U.S. traffic for the first 11 months of 2014 was 26,486,693 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.3% from last year.

“It’s not always easy to tell from available indicators how the economy is performing and that is true for rail traffic in November when some traffic categories showed solid growth, others not so much,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray. “Today, railroads are moving more traffic than at any time since 2007.”

 

 

 

More Fleet Management

thermo king heavy duty trucking
SponsoredJuly 1, 2026

Enhance Fleet Performance with High-Efficiency Auxiliary Power Units

Drive sustainable cost savings while increasing driver comfort during short- and long-haul logistics operations.

Read More →
Cover of a Dayton Parts guide titled "Strategic Parts Purchasing: A Process Checklist." The cover highlights "5 Steps to Revamp Parts Procurement, Cut Costs and Increase Uptime" and features a warehouse aisle with shelving full of automotive parts, where a worker is organizing heavy-duty suspension components on a pallet.
SponsoredJune 30, 2026

Is Your Parts Procurement Process Reactive or Proactive?

Ready to revamp your parts procurement process? Learn how now with “Strategic Parts Purchasing: A Process Checklist”

Read More →
Fleet Managementby StaffJune 24, 2026

What Trucking Events are Happening in 2026?

Looking for trucking-related conventions, expos, and other events? Heavy Duty Trucking has developed this list of national and larger regional trucking shows and events.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
LIne graph showing spot rates and driver availability over time
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeJune 22, 2026

Truckload Rates Keep Rising as Tight Capacity Fuels Freight Market Recovery

Spot and contract rates continued climbing in May and June, not because freight demand is surging, but because fewer trucks and drivers are available.

Read More →
Geotab screen on AI concept background
Fleet ManagementJune 17, 2026

What Geotab's New AI Connector Means for Fleets

Fleets can now ask their usual AI assistants questions about maintenance, safety, fuel use, and vehicle performance, using their live Geotab data, and take action on the answers without leaving their preferred AI tool.

Read More →
Image of computer screen with BidBoardX interface

New C.H. Robinson Tool Opens Door to More Predictable Freight

BidBoardX lets carriers search, bid on, and secure committed freight opportunities through a single digital marketplace.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Amazon electric cargo bike on New York City street
Fleet ManagementJune 15, 2026

New York City's Microhub Project is Delivering Results

Trucking, last-mile delivery companies, and environmental advocates like what they are seeing so far with New York's microhub program.

Read More →
Illustration of hourglass and trucks backed up to a dock
DriversJune 15, 2026

Why Truck Detention Keeps Costing Fleets Time and Money

A 2024 ATRI study found detention affects nearly 40% of truckload stops and costs the industry more than $15 billion annually. Despite the toll on drivers, fleets, and supply chains, the problem remains stubbornly persistent.

Read More →
Panel discussion
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeJune 12, 2026

Time is Running Out to Apply for Exclusive HDT Event

Heavy Duty Trucking Exchange brings fleet managers and suppliers together for the deeper conversations that lead to ideas, partnerships, and solutions. Time is running out to apply for the September event.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Empty trailer with worker loading a pallet of cargo
Fleet ManagementJune 10, 2026

Amazon Launches Less-Than-Truckload Freight Offering for All Businesses   

This launch is the latest addition to Amazon Supply Chain Services, a portfolio of supply chain capabilities from Amazon, including freight, distribution, fulfillment, and parcel shipping.

Read More →