The Association of American Railroads reported Thursday that in March 2013, intermodal traffic totaled 933,208 containers and trailers, up 0.5 percent compared with March 2012. That percentage increase represents the smallest year-over-year monthly gain for intermodal since August 2011.
Carloads originated in March 2013 totaled 1,117,427, down 0.5 percent compared with the same month last year. While it was a decline, March had the lowest year-over-year monthly dip in carloads since January of 2012.
Commodities with the biggest carload increases in March included petroleum and petroleum products, up 54.3 percent or 19,295 carloads; motor vehicles and parts, up 6.1 percent or 4,127 carloads; and coke, up 11.4 percent or 1,550 carloads. Commodities with carload declines last month included metallic ores, down 13.2 percent or 2,908 carloads.
For the first 13 weeks of 2013, US railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,570,874 carloads, down 3 percent from the same point last year, and 3,084,916 intermodal units, up 5.3 percent from last year. Total US traffic for the first 13 weeks of 2013 was 6,655,790 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.7 percent from last year.
Canadian railroads reported 80,227 carloads for the week, up 0.5 percent compared with the same week last year, and 47,127 intermodal units, down 10.5 percent compared with 2012.
Mexican railroads reported 13,948 carloads for the week, down 6.3 percent compared with the same week last year, and 7,839 intermodal units, down 13.9 percent.
Combined North American rail volume for the first 13 weeks of 2013 on 13 reporting US, Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 4,770,914 carloads, down 1.5 percent compared with the same point last year, and 3,863,824 trailers and containers, up 5 percent compared with last year.