JOC Staff | Jan 10, 2013 12:34PM EST
U.S. intermodal volume fell for the second week straight, dropping 8 percent year-over-year in the week ending Jan. 5, according to the Association of American Railroads.
The declines are likely because the New Year’s holdiday fell on Monday and Tuesday, compared with Saturday and Sunday in 2012. Intermodal traffic in the previous week plunged 14 percent.
Carload volume in the week ending Jan. 5 dropped 12.1 percent year-over-year, as shipments of coal fell 19.2 percent, and motor vehicle and equipment traffic declined 20.6 percent. Weekly carload traffic on Eastern railroads fell 12.3 percent year-over-year, while Western railroad volume dropped 12 percent in the same period.
Canadian intermodal volume in the first week of 2013 rose 4.4 percent, while carload volume was flat. Mexican intermodal traffic plummeted 31.2 percent and carload traffic fell 23.5 percent.