AAR: U.S. freight-rail traffic falls 3.8% in Week 43

Freight-rail traffic in the United States for the week ending Oct. 25 totaled 499,688 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.8% compared with the same week in 2024.

The railroads hauled 226,748 carloads during the week, down 0.9%, while intermodal volume totaled 272,940 containers and trailers, down 6.1%, according to the weekly rail traffic report from the Association of American Railroads.

Of the 10 carload commodities that AAR tracks weekly, five posted traffic increases. Gainers included metallic ores and metals, up 8.1% to 19,559 carloads; nonmetallic minerals, up 2.6% to 32,940; and miscellaneous carloads, up 6.9% to 9,056. Commodity groups that posted decreases included motor vehicles and parts, down 11.5% to 14,556 carloads; coal, down 2.4% to 58,652; and grain, down 4.7% to 23,031.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 92,109 carloads for the week, down 5.3%, and 71,508 intermodal units, down 0.2%. Mexican railroads hauled 12,393 carloads for the week, up 14.7%, and 14,843 intermodal units, up 33%.

 For the first 43 weeks of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024:

• U.S. railroads reported 21,225,518 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.1%;
• Canadian railroads posted 6,966,014 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.8%; and
• Mexican railroads carried 1,032,342 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.8%.