by Calculated Risk June 10, 2024 11:12 AM
From the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Railway time display. Graphs and excerpts reproduced with permission.
Total U.S. vehicle loads in May 2024 were down 6.0% compared to May 2023, marking the fifth consecutive year of year-over-year declines. Year-to-date total vehicle loads through May were down 5.0% compared to last year, or 247,984 vehicles, the lowest on record since 1988.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: it’s coal’s fault. Coal shipments averaged 49,239 cars in May 2024, down 22.0% from last year and the fifth consecutive year of double-digit declines. The only months in our records with lower coal volumes were May 2020 and April 2024. Year-to-date coal shipments for 2024-May are down 18.3% or 263,128 cars from last year. Still, coal remains the most heavily trafficked commodity for U.S. railroads (25% of volumes shipped so far this year).
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This graph is Railway Time Indicator Report It shows 6-week average US cargo payloads in 2022, 2023 and 2024:
Total U.S. railroad traffic in May 2024 was 67,145 cars, down 6.0% compared to May 2023. The weekly average in May 2024 was 212,160 cars, roughly the same as April 2024.
Cumulative traffic volumes from 2024 through May were down 5.0% (247,984 vehicles) compared to the same period last year and 4.4% compared to the same period in 2022.
The second graph is 6-week average (Not monthly) US Intermodal (using intermodal or shipping containers) for 2022, 2023, and 2024
U.S. intermodal volume in May 2024 increased 7.6% (90,744 containers and trailers) compared to May 2023, marking the ninth consecutive year of increase. Year-to-date intermodal volume through May was 5.57 million, up 8.7% (443,453) from a year ago but down 3.1% (180,434) from 2022.
