Total US carload traffic for the first 3 months of 2021 was 2,911,097 carloads, down -2.6%, or 77,267 carloads, from the same period last year; and 3,619,546 intermodal units, up +13.2%, or 421,513 containers and trailers, from last year.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported April 7 US and Canadian rail traffic volumes for March 2021.
After major declines in February, US railroads originated 1,156,158 carloads in March, up +4.1%, or 45,504 units, from March 2020. US railroads also originated 1,430,331 containers and trailers in March, up +24%, or 276,781 units, from the same month last year.
Total combined US traffic for the first 13 weeks of 2021 was 6,530,643 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of +5.6% compared to last year.
Regarding North American rail volume for the week ending April 14, 2021, Canadian railroads reported 79,509 carloads for the week, up +7.7%, and 75,499 intermodal units, up +14.4% compared with the same week in 2020.