U.S. freight-rail traffic inches up 1.5% in Week 7

U.S. freight-rail traffic rose 1.5% to 480,740 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Feb. 15 compared with traffic in the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Total carloads for the week were 209,216, down 4.8%, while intermodal volume reached 271,524 containers and trailers, up 7%.

Of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked weekly by the AAR, one posted an increase for the week: Petroleum and petroleum products climbed 15.9% to 10,948 carloads. Commodity groups that posted decreases included coal, down 7.6% to 54,447 carloads; metallic ores and metals, down 11% to 17,270; and chemicals, down 4.9% to 32,246 carloads.

Canadian railroads reported 87,034 carloads for the week, down 6.3%, and 65,628 intermodal units, down 7.1%. Mexican railroads posted 15,444 carloads, down 17.3%; and 12,511 intermodal units, down 7.1%.

During the first seven weeks of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024:

• U.S. railroads reported 3,338,568 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.7%;

• Canadian railroads posted 1,091,660 carloads, containers and trailers, up 2%; and

• Mexican railroads logged 154,524 carloads and intermodal units, down 8.5%.