Intermodal traffic edge ahead in a down week for commodity freight on U.S. railroads, the Association of American Railroads said.
Total U.S. weekly rail traffic for the week ending March 28 was 515,921 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.5% from the same week a year ago.
Carload freight totaled 233,833 units, down 0.8%, while intermodal volume came to 282,088 containers and trailers, better by 1.6% y/y.
Six of 10 carload commodity categories gained led by petroleum, 11.2%; chemicals, 5.9%; and non-categorized freight, 7%.
Coal led decliners at 8.3% followed by nonmetallic minerals such as sand and stone, 3.8%; and metallic ores and minerals typically used in steel production, 2% lower y/y.
Through the first 12 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,684,108 carloads, ahead 4.2%, and 3,311,403 intermodal units, a decrease of 0.2% percent from 2025. Total combined traffic reached 5,995,511 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.7%
North American weekly volume on 9 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads was 342,214 carloads, lower by 2.1%, and 371,548 intermodal units, up 0.8% y/y. Total combined weekly traffic slipped 0.6% to 713,762 carloads and intermodal units. Volume for the first 12 weeks of 2026 was 8,245,424 carloads and intermodal units, a narrow 1.8% gain from 2025.
Subscribe to FreightWaves’ Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox.
Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
Related coverage:
Greenbrier, TTX unveil commemorative USA 250th boxcars
CN made ‘inaccurate claims’ on rail merger data: UP exec
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