Trucking is driving double-digit growth for this rail freight category
Freight moving on U.S. railroads continued to post solid gains on improved industrial output and higher intermodal traffic. The post Trucking is driving double-digit growth for this rail freight category appeared first on FreightWaves.
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The rail freight rally continues. Traffic on U. S. railroads increased by 7. 2% from a year ago to 492,795 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending May 30, the Association of American Railroads reported. Commodity shipments improved by 4% to 228,346 carloads, and intermodal volume was 264,449 containers and trailers, better by 10% y/y.
Intermodal has benefited from shifts by shippers challenged by a soaring trucking market, where tender rejections, rates and fuel costs are reaching weekly highs.
The environment for motor carriers has also improved amid a capacity squeeze, the result of multi-pronged enforcement by federal authorities which have weeded out non-English speaking drivers, shuttered sketchy trucking schools, and sidelined chameleon carriers that reemerge with new identities after accidents.
(Chart: AAR) The AAR said seven of 10 carload commodity groups posted y/y gains. Grain was again a leader, up 33. 8%, followed by metallic ores and metals, 19. 5%, and motor vehicles and parts, 9. 1%. Notably, miscellaneous unidentified ladings classified as Other were up 20. 2%. Coal led decliners, down 9%, along with petroleum and petroleum products, 3.
4%, and nonmetallic minerals, 2. 4%. For the first 21 weeks of this year, cumulative U. S. volume of 4,756,909 carloads was 3. 4% better from 2025, while 5,820,002 intermodal units improved 1. 8%. Total combined traffic was 10,576,911 carloads and intermodal units, ahead by 2. 5%. North American rail volume for the week on 9 reporting U. S.
, Canadian and Mexican railroads increased by 2. 7% to 336,920 carloads from a year ago. A total of 353,702 intermodal units was up 7. 2%. Total combined traffic came to 690,622 carloads and intermodal units, better by 4. 9%. Year-to-date volume edged up 2. 3% to 14,567,984 carloads and intermodal units.
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This briefing is based on reporting from Freightwaves. Use the original post for full primary-source context.
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