Intermodal rail powers up with 7% gain for latest week

Rail traffic on U. S. carriers came to 535,663 carloads and intermodal units, up 4. 9% compared with the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads data for the week ending Sept. 19. Total carloads reached 234,207 units, up 2. 4%, while intermodal volume was 301,456 containers and trailers, better by 6. 9% compared to 2025.

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2025. Metallic ores and metals surged 15. 1%, followed by petroleum and petroleum products, 12. 5%, and nonmetallic minerals such as sand and stone, 7%. (Chart: AAR) Grain paused its long stretch of gains, down 7. 7%, joined by losses in coal, 3.

1%, and motor vehicles and parts, 0. 8%. Through the first 37 weeks of the year, U. S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 8,444,095 carloads, up 2. 7%, and 10,477,086 intermodal units, up 4. 1%, y/y. Total combined traffic was 18,921,181 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 3. 4%. North American rail volume for the week on nine reporting U. S.

, Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 340,379 carloads, up 3. 1%, and 387,419 intermodal units, up 6%, from the previous year. Total combined freight was 727,798 carloads and intermodal units, up 4. 6%. Volume for the first 37 weeks of 2026 was 25,944,601 carloads and intermodal units, up 3. 1% compared with 2025.

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