Weekly U.S. rail freight was narrowly lower in the latest data as intermodal traffic weighed down carload gains.
Total freight was off 1.2% for the week ended Oct. 11 from the previous week, according to the Association of American Railroads, as a 1.2% improvement in carloads was offset by intermodal containers and trailers that slipped 3.3%.
Five of 10 carload commodity groups tracked by AAR finished ahead of the same week in 2024, led by nonmetallic minerals, 6.5%; motor vehicles and parts, 3.5%, and petroleum and related products, 2.4%.
Decreases were led by metallic ores and metals, 4.2%, while forest products and grain were off by 0.7% and 0.4%.
Through the first 41 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads handled cumulative volume of 9.1 million carloads, up 2.1% y/y, and 11.13 million intermodal units, up 3.4%. Year-to-date total combined U.S. traffic was 20.23 million carloads and intermodal units, better by 2.8% y/y.
North American rail volume for the week on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 333,005 carloads, up 1.5% from a year ago, and 359,462 intermodal units, lower by 0.8%. Total combined traffic was 692,467 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.3%. Volume for the first 41 weeks of 2025 was 27.84 million carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 2.3% y/y.
Subscribe to FreightWaves’ Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox.
Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
Related coverage:
Trucks to feel pressure from weaker port, rail: ITS
CN and Congebec partner to expand cold chain rail across North America
Rail intermodal, carloads gain for second week in row
Sneaker reseller’s arrest highlights surge in US cargo thefts
Freight Fraud Symposium
Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.
Supply Chain AI Symposium
Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.
Future of Rail Symposium
Reshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.
Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame • Cleveland, OH Register NowPast the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.
The Old Post Office • Chicago, IL Register NowReshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now