U.S. freight carload, intermodal traffic gain

U.S. freight carload traffic for the week ending May 21, 2011 rose 2.3% compared with the same week in 2010, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday. U.S. intermodal volume for the week advanced 8.7% measured against the comparable week in 2010.

AAR said 12 of its 20 carload commodity groups posted increases from the comparable week in 2010. Commodity groups posting significant increases were grain, up 12.9%, and metallic ores, up 11.5%. Groups posting a notable decrease were waste and nonferrous scrap, down 17.2%, and primary forest products, down 10.1%.

Canadian freight carload traffic for the week rose 5.2% compared with last year, while Canadian intermodal volume slumped 1.2%. Mexican freight carload traffic for the week declined 2.2% percent compared with the same week last year, but Mexican intermodal volume rose 22.4%.

Combined North American freight carload traffic for the first 20 weeks of 2011 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads was up 3% percent compared with the same point last year, while intermodal was up 7.9%.