While other coal rail shippers have reported declines in coal loads or overall downward trends exacerbated by their coal segments, Florida-based RailAmerica said coal, along with forest products and motor vehicles, made up its largest increases between May 2011 and May 2012.

The company reported 75,384 loads for May, versus 69,776 last May. Shipment increases were recorded in eight of its 12 commodity groups year on year.

“May 2012 coal shipments compared favorably to May 2011 levels largely due to last year's flooding-related service disruptions on the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad,” officials said.

RailAmerica’s biggest declines were in pulp, paper and allied products and metallic ores and metals, the latter primarily due to fewer shipments in the northeast region.

Also boosting the company’s numbers was its acquisition of three railroads in Alabama last year – the Wellsboro and Corning Railroad and Marquette Railroad, takeovers completed in April and May of this year, respectively. Those arms accounted for 2,194 carloads in May.

RailAmerica’s portfolio includes 45 individual railroads with about 7500 miles of track in 28 US states and three Canadian provinces.