U.S. freight-rail traffic fell 2.6% in Week 42

U.S. freight-rail traffic in the week ending Oct. 22 totaled 497,854 carloads and intermodal units, a 2.6% decrease compared with traffic levels in the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Carloads totaled 224,244, a 0.3% increase, and intermodal volume clocked in at 273,610 containers and trailers, a 4.8% decrease.

Five of the 10 carload commodity groups that AAR tracks weekly posted an increase. Gainers included nonmetallic minerals, up 10.7% to 33,517; metallic ores and metals, up 7.7% to 20,353; and chemicals, up 3.1% to 32,046. Commodities that posted decreases included grain at 10.1%, miscellaneous carloads at 15.3% and coal at 1.8%.

For the week, Canadian railroads logged 92,310 carloads, down 2.9%, and 70,928 intermodal units, up 5.2%. Mexican railroads registered 13,597 carloads, up 19.2%, and 14,094 intermodal units, up 33.9%.

Through 2025's first 42 weeks on a year-over-year basis:

• U.S. railroads reported 20,725,830 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.7%;

• Canadian railroads logged 6,802,397 carloads, trailers and containers, up 1.9%; and

• Mexican railroads posted 1,005,106 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.4%.