Carload and intermodal rail traffic in the U.S. was narrowly up for the week ending August 30.
Freight volumes finished 0.9% better than the same week a year ago, according to the Association of American Railroads.
Total carloads were up 0.6% y/y, while intermodal volume gained 1.2% from 2024.
Five of 10 commodity groups improved, led by chemicals, 4.9%, and metallic ores and metals, 3.5%.
Petroleum and associated products saw the steepest drop at 7.7%, followed by grain, 3.6%, and forest products, 3.4%.
U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume increased 2.5% through the first 35 weeks of 2025 from a year ago. Intermodal units were ahead 4.1%. Total combined U.S. traffic was up 3.4% y/y.
North American carloads for the week on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads sank 2.2% y/y. Containers and trailers were up 5.2%. Total combined weekly traffic rose 1.6%. North American volume for the first 35 weeks of this year was up 2.7% compared with 2024.
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Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
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