US freight rail traffic saw a decline of 2.8% in 2022

Posted on January 16, 2023   |  

In 2022, the US operations of freight railroads handled 25.4 million carloads and intermodal units which is a decline of 2.8% from 2021. 

US carload traffic was flat to lower, falling by 0.3% to 12 million carloads, while intermodal volumes fell by 4.9% to 13.4 million containers and trailers.

In December 2022, rail traffic fell by 4.8% to 1.7 million carloads and intermodal units, with US carloads slipping 4.4% to 842,171 carloads and intermodal units dropping by 5.2% to 900,213 containers and trailers.

Coal volumes grew by 2.7% to 3.4 million carloads and volumes for non-metallic minerals which include crushed stone, sand, and gravel increased by 3.7% to 1.6 million carloads.