As another indicator of the strength of the US economy, railroad and intermodal volume in September both showed significant gains, according to a report issued by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Septembers’s carload volumes were the seventh straight month that they have been higher than the previous month, something that hasn’t happened since the beginning of 2011, according to the AAR report. And intermodal volume also was high in September. In fact, the second, third and fourth weeks of the month were the highest-volume weeks for intermodal in the history of US railroads, according to AAR senior VP John T. Gray.
“As has generally been the case in recent months, US freight rail traffic in September was consistent with an economy that’s growing at a steady pace,” Gray said. “We think that will probably continue for the foreseeable future.”
Of the 20 major commodities moved via rail car and intermodal trailers, petroleum and petroleum products was up 28.1%; stone, sand and gravel was up 12.6%; and coal was down 1.7%.
During the week ending September 27, 301,863 carloads were moved on US rails, a 1.6% annual decrease. Weekly intermodal volume was 275,071, a 1.8% increase.