by calculated risk May 7, 2024 11:01:00 AM
From the Association of American Railroads (AAR) railway time indicator. Graphs and excerpts are reproduced with permission..
In April 2024, weekly vehicle loads originating in the United States averaged 212,221 vehicles. It was down 6.5% from April 2023 and was the second lowest weekly average for April on our record. This dates back to 1988. (Decreased in April 2020.) Total vehicle loads decreased in each of the first four months of 2024 compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date total vehicle loading through April was the lowest at 3.62 million units, decreasing by 4.8%. Every year in our records.
The main reason is coal. …
U.S. railroads also started 1.02 million trains intermodal shipping container April 2024 Trailer, 8.6% increase compared to April 2023 — Intermodal increased year-over-year for eight consecutive years. (Intermodal is not included in the loading vehicle.)
Emphasis added
Click on the graph to see a larger image.
This graph is Railway time indicator report shows 6 week average U.S. vehicle payloads in 2022, 2023, and 2024:
The total U.S.-originated vehicle load in April 2024 was 848,882 vehicles, a decrease of 6.5% (58,751 vehicles) from April 2023. The weekly average for April 2024 was 212,221 units, the second-lowest April in our records dating back to 1988. (April 2020)) The total vehicle loading capacity from the beginning of the year to April was 3.62 million vehicles, a decrease of 4.8% (180,839 vehicles) from last year. In each of the first four months of 2024, total vehicle loads decreased year-over-year.
It’s a broken record at this point, but it’s because of coal. Coal traffic in April 2024 averaged 46,303 units per week, a decrease of 28.0% from April 2023, marking the fourth consecutive year of double-digit decline.
The second graph is 6 week average US intermodal shipping (not monthly) for 2022, 2023, and 2024: (using intermodal or shipping containers):
U.S. railroads shipped 1.02 million intermodal containers and trailers in April 2024, an increase of 8.6% (80,471 units) from April 2023. This is his 8th consecutive year of increase in intermodal. In April 2024, intermodal transportation averaged 254,642 units per week. The average for April from 2015 to 2023 was 257,701, a slight increase from April 2024. Last year wasn’t a good year for intermodal transportation – it was the lowest since 2013 – and this year’s increase has essentially returned intermodal volumes to normal levels.
