Carload, Intermodal Traffic Reaches Highest Level This Year

U.S. railroads experienced the highest carload and intermodal traffic levels for 2010 during the week ending July 31
, according to data released by the Association of American Railroads.

U.S. railroads reported 300,292 carloads for the week, up 9.4 percent from the same week in 2009, but down 10.6 percent from the same week in 2008.

Intermodal traffic totaled 232,895 trailers and containers, up 20.2 percent from the same week in 2009, and up 0.9 percent from 2008. Compared with the same week in 2009, container volume increased 21.9 percent and trailer volume rose 11.7 percent. Compared with the same week in 2008, container volume was up 9 percent and trailer volume dropped 28.9 percent.

Year to date, U.S. railroads reported volume of about 8.5 million carloads, up 7.3 percent from 2009, but down 13.1 percent from 2008. Trailer and container volume was about 6.3 million, up 13.5 percent from 2009, but down 6 percent from 2008.

Eighteen of the 19 carload commodity groups saw gains from the 2009 week, with only waste and scrap, down 1.9 percent, posting a decline. Metallic ores, up 73 percent, and metals and products, up 35.2 percent, were the commodities posting the most significant increases.