U.S. freight-rail traffic down 2.3% in Week 49

U.S. freight-rail traffic totaled 508,999 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Dec. 6, down 2.3% compared with the same week in 2024, according to Association of American Railroads data.

The railroads hauled 228,823 carloads during the week, up 1.7%, and 280,176 containers and trailers, down 5.4%.

Of the 10 carload commodities that AAR tracks weekly, five posted traffic increases. Gainers included coal, up 5.4% to 61,026 carloads; grain, up 8.4% to 25,098; and nonmetallic minerals, up 4.1% to 29,330.

Commodity groups that posted decreases included chemicals, down 3.1% to 32,548 carloads; metallic ores and metals, down 3% to 19,706; and miscellaneous, down 4.2% to 8,897.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 94,333 carloads for the week, up 2.5%, and 67,986 intermodal units, down 1.8%. Mexican railroads hauled 12,647 carloads for the week, up 2.3%, and 13,931 intermodal units, up 18.4%.

For the first 49 weeks of 2025 compared with traffic in the same period in 2024:

• U.S. railroads reported 24,166,363 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.8%;
• Canadian railroads posted 7,943,671 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.3%; and
• Mexican railroads carried 1,166,029 carloads and intermodal units, down 5%.