Containers

Rail carloads, at 224,620, fell 1.7% annually, and intermodal containers and trailer volume, at 294,284 units, decreased 1.2% annually.

Total November volume, at 1,456,259 units, fell 4.1% annually, following a 2.0% annual decline in October and respective 2.4% and 1.6% annual gains seen in September and August, respectively. Which was preceded by July’s 4.4% annual gain, which saw higher volumes due to the pulling-forward of goods being imported during the previous pause on the White House’s reciprocal tariffs.

Rail carloads, at 228,823, rose 1.7% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 280,176 units, fell 5.4% annually.

The November FRI was down 0.4% from October to November, falling for the seventh time in the last eight months, and it was off 4.4% annually, due largely to an intermodal slowdown in recent months, noted the report.

Rail carloads, at 197,955, increased 4.3% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 234,860 units, fell 6.5% annually.

Total loadings, at 4,757,324, increased 2.8% annually, hitting its highest level since the second quarter 2021.

The state of the North American intermodal market could be described as somewhat bifurcated, based on a presentation at last week’s RailTrends conference in New York by noted intermodal expert Larry Gross, president of Gross Transportation Consulting.

Rail carloads, at 224,651, were up 0.1% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 268,842 units, were off 8.7% annually.

Rail carloads, at 227,209, were down 0.7% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 269,719 units, fell 6.4% annually.

Rail carloads, at 226,748, fell 0.9% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 272,940 units, were off 6.1% annually.

Total September volume, at 1,550,599 units, rose 2.4% annually, ahead of the 1.6% annual gain seen in August and below July’s 4.4% annual gain, which saw higher volumes due to the pulling-forward of goods being imported during the previous pause on the White House’s reciprocal tariffs.

Rail carloads, at 224,244, eked out a 0.3% annual increase, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 273,610 units, fell 4.8% annually.

LM Group News Editor Jeff Berman recently interviewed Chris Butler, CEO, at Cranford, N.J.-based National Tree Company. Butler provided Berman with an overview of how National Tree is handling tariff policy, supply chain uncertainty, seasonal issues, and sourcing, among other topics.

Rail carloads, at 224,562, increased 1.2% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 273,900 units, fell 3.3% annually.

U.S. rail carloads, at 224,972, eked out a 0.002% annual increase, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 278,566 units, rose 6.7% annually.