Total U.S. weekly rail traffic came to 486,854 carloads and intermodal units in the latest week’s data, trailing the year-ago period by 3.2%.
Total commodities for the week ending Feb. 7 were 208,408 carloads, weaker by 4.8% compared with the same week in 2025, according to Association of American Railroads data. Intermodal volume was 278,446 containers and trailers, off 2% y/y. Import demand hit an earlier-than-usual lull mirrored by falling container rates on the trans-Pacific.
Oil led gains by three of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked by AAR. Petroleum and petroleum products finished ahead by 10.2%, followed by grain, 3.2%, and motor vehicles and parts, 2.6%.
Forest products, off 16%, bottomed out among commodity groups that posted decreases from a year ago. Nonmetallic minerals fell 11.7%, followed by metallic ores and metals, 6.8%, and coal, 6.2%.
Coal’s decline coincided with the Washington Coal Club this week presenting President Donald Trump with its inaugural “Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal” award.
Through the first five weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads saw cumulative volume of 1,071,966 carloads, up 2.5% y/y, and 1,346,799 intermodal units, lower by 3.2%. Total combined U.S. traffic year-to-date was 2,418,765 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.7%.
North American freight turned in narrow, and identical, positive indicators for the week on 9 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads as total 309,723 carloads were up 0.1% y/y, and 361,789 intermodal units were also ahead 0.1%. Total combined traffic in North America was 671,512 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 0.1%. Volume for the first five weeks of this year was 3,338,702 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.1% 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:
Union Pacific claims rival railroad delaying trains
New power: CSX signs $670M locomotive deal
GOP members to STB: Find ‘real’ benefits or reject rail merger
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