U.S. freight-rail traffic climbs 1% in Week 39

U.S. freight-rail traffic inched up 1% to 512,642 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Sept. 27 compared with the traffic in the same week in 2024, according to Association of American Railroads data. 

Railroads hauled 228,903 carloads during the week, a 0.9% increase, and 283,739 containers and trailers, a 1.1% increase.

Five of the 10 carload commodities that AAR tracks every week logged an increase. The gainers included nonmetallic minerals, up 7.4% to 32,825 carloads; grain, up 8.2% to 22,609; and motor vehicles and parts, up 3% to 17,205.

Commodity groups that posted decreases included coal, down 2.2% to 59,499 carloads; petroleum and petroleum products, down 4.1% to 10,343; and metallic ores and metals, down 1.7% to 20,853.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 93,860 carloads for the week, down 3.2%, and 72,540 intermodal units, up 3.2%. Mexican railroads reported 13,540 carloads, a 7.6% decrease; and 15,709 intermodal units, a 21.2% increase.

For the first 39 weeks of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024:

• U.S. railroads reported 19,225,976 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.9%;

• Canadian railroads posted 6,307,357 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.1%; and

• Mexican railroads logged 924,119 carloads and intermodal units, down 7.1%.