U.S. freight-rail traffic climbs 5.6% in Week 29

U.S. freight-rail traffic rose 5.6% to 506,882 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending July 19 compared with the same week in 2024, according to Association of American Railroads data.

The railroads hauled 229,739 carloads in the week, a 7.3% increase, and 277,143 containers and trailers, a 4.3% increase.

All 10 of the carload commodities that AAR tracks every week logged increases.

Coal increased 7.8% to 62,270 carloads; grain rose 24.8% to 21,541; and metallic ores and metals climbed 9.2% to 21,220.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads logged 84,893 carloads for the week, down 2.6%, and 73,459 intermodal units, up 7.5%. Mexican railroads reported 15,210 carloads, a 23.4% increase; and 11,086 intermodal units, a 28.1% increase.

For the first 29 weeks of 2025 compared to 2024:

• U.S. railroads reported 14,134,803 carloads and intermodal units, a 3.9% increase;
• Canadian railroads posted 4,715,338 carloads, containers and trailers, up 1.3%; and
• Mexican railroads logged 693,113 carloads and intermodal units, down 6.2%.