Rail freight stretches lead over 2025

Weekly rail traffic on U. S. railroads totaled 526,410 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Aug. 1, up 2. 4% y/y, the Association of American Railroads reported. Commodity shipments were 233,171 carloads, down 0. 4%, while intermodal volume of 293,239 containers and trailers was better by 4. 8% compared to 2025.

Metallic ores and metals typically used in steelmaking led seven of 10 category gainers, by 9. 1%, followed by petroleum and related products, 5. 9%, and farm products excluding grain and food, 5. 4%. (Chart: AAR) Seasonally-weak coal was off 7. 7%, while chemicals struggled, weaker by 2. 3% y/y. Through the first 30 weeks of 2026, U. S.

railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,811,496 carloads, an increase of 2. 7%, and 8,418,215 intermodal units, up 3. 8% from a year ago. Total combined traffic was 15,229,711 carloads and intermodal units, better by 3. 3%. North American rail volume for the week on nine reporting U. S. , Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 335,697 carloads, up 0.

5%, and 377,702 intermodal units, up 4. 3% from the previous year. Combined traffic came to 713,399 carloads and intermodal units, a gain of 2. 5%. Volume year-to-date was 20,931,511 carloads and intermodal units, up 2. 9% y/y. Subscribe to FreightWaves’ Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox.

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Read more: Federal court upholds challenge to FRA’s two-person rail crew rule BNSF earnings rise on higher volume and revenue AAR launches freight rail research consortium Rail merger a failure on first sight, shippers protest These two industrial categories paced another strong week for rail freight The post Rail freight stretches lead over 2025 appeared first on FreightWaves.