Rail traffic was….lousy in November as the continued (supply chain) congestion issues, labor shortages, chip shortages, grain problems and Acts of God around Vancouver all played a role – North American total freight rail volume was down 6.7%. The breakdown was carloads down a tad (0.9% - 11/20 commodities showed increases) and intermodal down 11.7%. By country, in order of issues:
- Canadian carloads were down 8.3% (the impacts of the mudslides – and the crop issues can be seen in grain down 29% and coal -20%); 10/20 commodities were up. Intermodal was down 21% bringing total traffic down 15%.
- The US total was down 4.5% (carloads up 2% though down a tad without coals almost 9% boost; 12/20) and Intermodal down almost 10% (-9.6%). Grain was down “only” 7.4%, Forest Products were up 2.5%, Chemicals up 2.4%; Motor Vehicles down 14.3%.
- Mexico showed the impacts of the auto chip shortage (vehicles/parts -19%) and also the cessation of Lazaro Cardenas blockades (intermodal down only 1.2% despite the auto impact). The totals were carloads down 4% (11/20 and total traffic down 2.6%.