AAR

January 2022 was the “highest volume month ever for rail carloads of chemicals, providing a strong base for future growth in a critical commodity,” AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray reported on Feb. 2.

U.S. Rail Traffic Lags in January

“For most traffic categories, U.S. rail volumes this January were down compared to last year,” Association of American Railroads Senior Vice President John T. Gray reported on Feb. 2; total carloads for the month dipped 3% from 2021 and intermodal units dropped 14.6%, according to AAR figures.

STB to AAR: Sorry, No Extension

The Surface Transportation Board on Jan. 28 issued a decision denying a request from the Association of American Railroads to extend the procedural schedule in Docket No. EP 711 (Sub-No. 1) et al., Reciprocal Switching; regarding the Board’s NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking) on reciprocal switching regulations. “All procedural dates remain unchanged, including those for the public hearing beginning on March 15, 2022,” STB said.

Another ‘Down’ Week for U.S. Rail Traffic

For the week ending Jan. 22, 2022, U.S. Class I railroads hauled 223,395 carloads and 254,067 containers and trailers, a decline of 3.3% and 14.8%, respectively, from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads reported on Jan. 26.

U.S. Rail Traffic Continues Downward Trend in Week 2

Total U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 15, 2022 was 493,617 carloads and intermodal units, down 6.6% from the same point last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on Jan. 19; it is the second consecutive week that traffic has dropped.

Week 1: Double-Digit Losses for U.S. Carloads, Intermodal

U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 8, 2022, came in at 440,761 carloads and intermodal units, dropping 16% from the same week last year, based on 210,020 carloads—down 10.6% from 2021—and intermodal volume of 230,741 containers and trailers—down 20.4%, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on Jan. 12.

For 2021, Intermodal Record Collapses in Second Half

In 2021, U.S. intermodal’s “record-setting” first half gave way to a lower second half as supply chain challenges persisted, reported Association of American Railroads Senior Vice President John T. Gray on Jan. 5; December volumes continued the downward trend, coming in 8.2% lower than the prior-year period, according to AAR figures.

Hedrick Tapped as AAR CFO

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has hired Paul Hedrick to succeed Jeffrey D. Marsh as Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer.

Rail Traffic Uptick for Week 51

For the week ending Dec. 25, 2021, U.S. rail traffic was up 3.7% over the same week last year; total carloads came in 8.7% higher while intermodal volume continued its downward trend, falling 0.4%, the Association of American Railroads reported on Dec. 29.

U.S., Canadian Intermodal Continues Recent Downward Trend

U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Dec. 18, 2021was 504,099 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.1% compared with the same week last year, based on 234,704 carloads—up 1.7% compared with the same week in 2020—and intermodal volume of 269,395 containers and trailers—down 6.9%, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on Dec. 22.

Week 49: Another Hit for Intermodal

U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Dec. 11, 2021 continued to suffer, as a near-11% fall-off in intermodal volume erased a small increase in carloads, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on Dec. 15.