AAR: Traffic still outpacing 2009 levels

U.S. carload freight traffic stayed above 2009 levels for the week ending Oct. 30, 2010, up 6.3% compared with a year ago, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday. U.S. intermodal traffic for the week was up 14.2% compared with the same week a year ago, with container volume up 15.7% and trailer volume up 6.5%.

AAR said 13 of the 19 carload commodity groups increased from the comparable week in 2009, with gains paced by metallic ores, up 128.2%, and crushed stone, sand and gravel, up 27.5%. Commodity groups posting declines included primary forest products, down 13.4%, non-metallic minerals, down 9.3%, and grain mill products, down 7%.

Canadian carload freight volume for the week was up 7.5% from last year, while intermodal gained 16.3%. Mexican carload freight volume rose 14.4% from the same week last year, while intermodal advanced 9.8%.

Combined North American carload freight volume for the first 43 weeks of 2010 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads rose 9.75 from 2009, while intermodal gained 15.1% over year-ago levels.