April 09, 2024
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reports that U.S. railroads originated 866,865 carloads in March 2024, down 3.5 percent, or 31,101 carloads, from March 2023. U.S. railroads also originated 1,022,321 containers and trailers in March 2024, up 11.7 percent, or 106,903 units, from the same month last year.
Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in March 2024 were 1,889,186, up 4.2 percent, or 75,802 carloads and intermodal units from March 2023.
In March 2024, 11 of the 20 carload commodity categories tracked by the AAR each month saw carload gains compared with March 2023. These included: grain, up 8,475 carloads or 11.4 percent; chemicals, up 7,248 carloads or 5.7 percent; and petroleum & petroleum products, up 5,249 carloads or 15.0 percent.
Commodities that saw declines in March 2024 from March 2023 included: coal, down 49,315 carloads or 18.6 percent; crushed stone, sand & gravel, down 5,434 carloads or 6.7 percent; and metallic ores, down 1,573 carloads or 8.9 percent.
Source: AAR