The Association of American Railroads has reported rail traffic gains for the week ending March 5 2011, with U.S. railroads originating 300,953 carloads, up 5.5% compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week was also up, totaling 214,343 trailers and containers, up 1% compared with the same week in 2010.
Fourteen of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases from the comparable week in 2010. Those groups posting significant increases included: metallic ores, up 105.2%; motor vehicles and equipment, up 20.8%, and petroleum products, up 18.6%. The commodity group reporting a significant drop in weekly traffic was grain mill products, down 12.1%.
Weekly carload volume on Eastern railroads was up 0.3% compared with last year. In the West, weekly carload volume was up 9.2% compared with the same week in 2010.
For the first nine weeks of 2011, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,578,642 carloads, up 6% from last year, and 1,959,272 trailers and containers, up 7.9% from the same point in 2010.
Canadian railroads reported 70,551 carloads for the week, down 5.9% from last year, and 43,401 trailers and containers, down 3.3% from 2010. For the first nine weeks of 2011, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 630,100 carloads, down 1.4% from the same point last year, and 407,050 trailers and containers, up 3.9% from last year.
Mexican railroads reported 14,225 carloads for the week, up 6% compared with the same week last year, and 6,921 trailers and containers, down 4.2%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first nine weeks of 2011 was 128,418 carloads, up 5.5% compared with the same point last year, and 65,042 trailers and containers, up 11.6%.
Combined North American rail volume for the first nine weeks of 2011 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 3,337,160 carloads, up 4.5% compared with the same point last year, and 2,431,364 trailers and containers, up 7.3% compared with last year.
I question the railroads commitment to the quality of the ‘product’ delivered in the face of these improvements. nThere remains a long road to travel when all internal departments COMMUNICATE and CONSIDER the needs of others when it comes down to delivering to the ultimate customer. nAll are to shoulder some of the blame when it comes to interaction or the lack thereof as regards the many steps necessary to put a railroad car on the road.