US rail traffic in July 2024 exhibited mixed trends, with carload shipments decreasing slightly while intermodal traffic rose significantly. Overall, combined rail traffic experienced a modest increase. The week ending August 3rd saw a notable surge in overall rail traffic, driven primarily by strong growth in intermodal shipments.
U.S. rail traffic saw a significant increase for the week ending August 10, 2024, driven by a double-digit jump in intermodal volume. While carloads saw a slight decline, the overall growth in intermodal traffic pushed the total rail traffic up by 5.2%. This trend is mirrored in North American rail traffic, which also saw an increase for the same period.
U.S. rail traffic experienced a 3.8% overall increase in June 2024, fueled by a significant 8.7% surge in intermodal units, despite a slight decline in carloads. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported that 11 out of 20 carload commodity categories saw gains, with notable increases in grain, chemicals, and petroleum products. However, coal shipments continued their downward trend, pulling total carloads below 2023 levels.
According to data from the Association of American Railroads, North American rail traffic saw a slight increase in the week ending May 11, 2024. Total US weekly rail traffic rose by 0.6%, while North American rail volume increased by 2.3%. The positive performance was primarily driven by gains in intermodal volume, which offset declines in carload traffic.
