May 03, 2024
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports that U.S. railroads originated 848,882 carloads in April 2024, down 6.5 percent, or 58,751 carloads, from April 2023. U.S. railroads also originated 1,018,569 containers and trailers in April 2024, up 8.6 percent, or 80,471 units, from the same month last year.
Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in April 2024 were 1,867,451, up 1.2 percent, or 21,720 carloads and intermodal units from April 2023.
In April 2024, nine of the 20 carload commodity categories tracked by the AAR each month saw carload gains compared with April 2023. These included: motor vehicles & parts, up 7,191 carloads or 12.1 percent; petroleum & petroleum products, up 4,967 carloads or 13.8 percent; and chemicals, up 3,686 carloads or 2.9 percent.
Commodities that saw declines in April 2024 from April 2023 included: coal, down 71,885 carloads or 28.0 percent; metallic ores, down 4,113 carloads or 16.9 percent; and crushed stone, sand & gravel, down 3,856 carloads or 4.4 percent.
Source: AAR