Freight Rail Yields
Operating Yield (quarterly data, not seasonally adjusted)
For freight, revenue per ton-mile is a measure of operating yield. This is a way of showing the average price paid by freight rail users. Yields break down into costs (such as fuel and labor) and profits associated with rail operations, which may vary by commodity hauled and geography.
| Freight Rail Operating Yields (Class I only) | 2013 Quarter 4 | 2014 Quarter 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Yield (cents per ton-mile) | 4.16 | 4.15 |
| Percent change from same quarter previous year | + 1.8% | - 0.3% |
NOTES: The current value is compared to the value from the same period in the previous year to account for seasonality.
Data only include Class I railroads.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, calculations based upon Surface Transportation Board, Office of Economics, Environmental Analysis, and Administration, Quarterly Selected Earnings, available at http://www.stb.dot.gov/ as of February 2015.