Rail traffic on U.S. carriers came to 535,663 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.9% compared with the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads data for the week ending Sept. 19.
Total carloads reached 234,207 units, up 2.4%, while intermodal volume was 301,456 containers and trailers, better by 6.9% compared to 2025.
Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2025. Metallic ores and metals surged 15.1%, followed by petroleum and petroleum products, 12.5%, and nonmetallic minerals such as sand and stone, 7%.
Grain paused its long stretch of gains, down 7.7%, joined by losses in coal, 3.1%, and motor vehicles and parts, 0.8%.
Through the first 37 weeks of the year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 8,444,095 carloads, up 2.7%, and 10,477,086 intermodal units, up 4.1%, y/y. Total combined traffic was 18,921,181 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 3.4%.
North American rail volume for the week on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 340,379 carloads, up 3.1%, and 387,419 intermodal units, up 6%, from the previous year. Total combined freight was 727,798 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.6%. Volume for the first 37 weeks of 2026 was 25,944,601 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.1% compared with 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.
Read more:
Next phase for autonomous railcar technology in commercial service testing
Greenbrier racks up $600 million in new railcar orders
New $100M inland rail terminal will handle 60,000 TEUs a year
Regulators turn down requests for summary denial of UP-NS merger
Union Pacific blasts rival railroads’ trackage rights requests
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now