(Source: Freight Waves, February 6, 2020)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — U.S. rail volumes were over 5% lower in January compared with a year ago amid persistent macroeconomic uncertainties. U.S. freight railroads originated 2.41 million carloads and intermodal units for the first five weeks of 2020, a 5.6% drop from the same period a year ago, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Of that, U.S. carloads slipped 5.9% to nearly 1.17 million carloads, while U.S. intermodal units fell 5.4% to nearly 1.25 million containers and trailers. Meanwhile, weekly U.S. rail volume was actually up compared with the same period in 2019. U.S. rail traffic for the fifth week of this year was 510,161 carloads and intermodal units, which is a 2.4% increase from the same period in 2019.
Full story: Freight Waves