[Vince Ferrer]

This is the first good news in shipping that I have posted since I started posting shipping related articles last fall. There is some evidence that shipping is leveling off, mostly in rail though, not as much in ocean shipping / international trade. This is the peak season for holiday shipping, a very important time. Naturally we should see shipments spiking now, but we need to see a long term floor and improvement.

[Need4Truth]

Intersting. Thanks for posting!

[hinckley buzzard]

The increases are pretty miniscule, and seem related mostly to providing metal for the resumption of production at auto plants around the country which have been idle the last couple months. As for "sustained" increase, well, we shall see.

[EGPWS]

U.S. rail hauls of metal cargoes reach highest level yet in 2009

C for C tax program perhaps via taxpayer $$$?

Rail the auto metal to the coast then ship it to China for reconstruction into something new to resell it to us again so we can pay sales tax on it.

What will the transoceanic shipping do on the market these days to come?

[wny]

274,728 bulk carloads, up nearly 800 from a week earlier. Train hauls of intermodal boxes, containers and trailers combined, hit 193,332 units for a gain of about 350.

0.3 % and 0.18 % increases respectively. Big woop. Cargo is hardly "swelling"

[rockinqsranch]

Glad to see you posting this information since last fall. It’s a finger on the pulse of the economy I found years ago as I was heavily involved in the shipping industry before I retired. My wife still is, and we still to this day regard the movement of freight as a good indicator of the health of the economy.

Nationally truckload haulers are still looking for that elusive freight. Those that have rail Intermodal divisions know where most of what freight exists is going.

Not that many out there anymore that avoid the rail as there was upon a time.

[Incorrigible]

Ping

[proudtobeanamerican1]

Hubby drives a train and was very surprised to get a bonus check for the last quarter today. IT Has been VERY SLOW for those guys. But, he says the last week has been really busy, so hopefully this is a true report and it’s only going to get better.

[parsifal]

“This is the peak season for holiday shipping, a very important time.”

Thats what I was going to say. Plus, reefer traffic still high this time of year, so truck freight probably still a little high side.

parsy who once worked in the trucking business and had to change his name.

[blam]

Then there's this today:

Baltic Dry Index Has Worst Week Since October Meltdown As Chinese Demand Slows