The total size of the North American rail equipment fleet once again held steady during fourth quarter 2014. The total equipment count was 2,012,323 compared to 2,007,584 during third quarter of 2014, resulting in a less than 1 percent increase.
The three largest segments once again this quarter were covered hoppers (26 percent), tank cars (19 percent) and gondolas (13 percent).
Group increases over the previous quarter were led by tank cars, up 2.5 percent, along with flats and intermodal flats, each up 1.3 percent. Declines this quarter were led by intermodal and box cars, down 2.2 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.
The total count of equipment in the revenue-earning fleet currently stands at 1.56 million. The revenue-earning fleet is a subset of the North American rail fleet that is largely composed of freight cars that can be used in interchange service and against which an interline waybill can be placed. The revenue-earning fleet of freight cars is made up of six sub-fleets: box cars, covered hoppers, flats, gondolas, open hoppers and tank cars. It excludes locomotives, intermodal trailers and containers, maintenance-of-way equipment and end-of-train devices.
Data Source: Railinc Umler® System. Data represents all equipment units on file, including pre-registered, restricted and scrap units.
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