U.S. freight rail traffic dips 1.6% in Week 37

U.S. freight-rail traffic for the week ending Sept. 13 totaled 514,167 carloads and intermodal units, a 1.6% decrease compared with traffic levels in the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Carloads for the week totaled 231,237, a 0.5% decrease, while intermodal volume totaled 282,930 containers and trailers, a 2.6% decrease.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups that AAR tracks weekly posted an increase. Gainers included chemicals, up 7.5% to 34,891; motor vehicles and parts, up 4.5% to 17,608; and nonmetallic minerals, up 2.3% to 32,754.

Commodity groups that posted decreases in traffic included coal, down 3.7% to 60,817 carloads; miscellaneous, down 18.2% to 8,776; and farm products excluding grain, and food, down 4.8% to 16,382.

Canadian railroads during the week logged 92,231 carloads, up 1.2%, and 71,932 intermodal units, up 1.1%. Mexican railroads reported 13,147 carloads, a loss of 10.9%; and 14,662 intermodal units, a gain of 14.6%.

For the first 37 weeks of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024:

• U.S. railroads reported 18,202,657 carloads and intermodal units, a 3.1% increase;

• Canadian railroads logged 5,978,337 carloads, trailers and containers, a 2.2% increase; and

• Mexican railroads posted 870,910 carloads and intermodal units, a 7.5% decrease.