Weekly traffic on U.S.railroads was 534,256 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Oct. 10, up 7.2 percent compared with the same week a year ago.
Carload commodities totaled 232,004 carloads, up 3.4 percent, according to Association of American Railroads data, while intermodal volume was 302,252 containers and trailers, up 10.4% y/y.
Eight of 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase from the same week in 2025. They were topped by metallic ores and metals typically used in steelmaking, 19.7%; forest products, 9.6%, and motor vehicles and parts, 9.4%.
Declines were seen in coal, 2%, and farm products excluding grain and food, 5.6%.
For the first 40 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 9,142,597 carloads, up 2.7%, and 11,379,949 intermodal units, up 4.4% from a year ago. Total combined traffic was 20,522,546 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 3.6%. The gains came as high diesel prices and regulatory enforcement have tightened the trucking market.
North American rail volume for the week on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 338,457 carloads, up 2.6%, and 386,946 intermodal units, up 9.1% y/y. Total combined traffic was 725,403 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.9%. Volume year-to-date was 28,096,978 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.1% from 2025.
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Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
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