Freight carried by U.S. railroads enjoyed another strong week, according to data from the Association of American Railroads.
U.S. weekly rail traffic was 532,462 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.2% compared with the same week a year ago.
Total carloads for the week ending August 22 came to 235,885 units, up 3.2%, while intermodal volume was 296,577 containers and trailers, up 5% on 2025.
Seven of 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2025. They included metallic ores and metals , 9.5%; chemicals, up 6% after several down weeks; and grain, up 9%.
Motor vehicles and parts slipped 10.4% for the week.
For the first 33 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 7,511,910 carloads, up 2.7%, and 9,301,986 intermodal units, up 3.8% y/y. Total combined traffic was 16,813,896 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 3.3% from the previous year.
North American weekly volume on 9 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 340,627 carloads, up 5.5% y/y, and 387,545 intermodal units, up 5.6%. Total combined traffic was 728,172 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.6%. North American volume for the first 33 weeks of 2026 was 23,071,332 carloads and intermodal units, up 3% compared with 2025.
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