The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Thursday intermodal traffic in February 2013 totaled 983,078 containers and trailers, up 10.5 percent (93,231 units) compared with February 2012. That percentage increase represents the biggest year-over-year monthly gain since December 2010. The weekly average of 245,770 intermodal units in February was the highest weekly average for any February in history.
Carloads originated in February totaled 1,113,843 carloads, down 1.1 percent (12,562 carloads) compared with the same month last year. However, carloads excluding coal and grain were up 4.5 percent (25,311 carloads) in February 2013 over February 2012.
Commodities with the biggest carload increases in February included petroleum and petroleum products, up 64.2 percent or 21,326 carloads in addition to motor vehicles and parts, up 2.6 percent or 1,722 carloads. Commodities with carload declines last month included coal, down 4.8 percent or 22,583 carloads; primary metal products, down 7.1 percent or 3,313 carloads; and iron and steel scrap, down 14.7 percent or 2,810 carloads.
For the first nine weeks of 2013, US railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,453,447 carloads, down 4 percent from the same point last year, and 2,151,708 intermodal units, up 7.6 percent from last year. For the first nine weeks of 2013, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 690,157 carloads, up 2.2 percent from the same point last year, and 460,163 intermodal units, up 6.3 percent from last year. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first nine weeks of 2013 is 130,634 carloads, up 9.2 percent from the same point last year, and 84,540 intermodal units, up 3.4 percent from last year.
Combined North American rail volume for the nine weeks of 2013 on 13 reporting US, Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 3,274,238 carloads, down 2.3 percent compared with the same point last year, and 2,696,411 trailers and containers, up 7.2 percent compared with last year.