U.S. freight railroads post 7% rise in traffic for Week 25

U.S. freight railroads hauled 525,474 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending June 27, a 7% increase compared with traffic in the same week in 2025, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Total carloads rose 3.3% to 232,408 units, while total intermodal volume increased 10.1% to 293,066 containers and trailers.

Nine of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked by AAR posted an increase during the week. They included metallic ores and metals, up 19.8% to 23,663 carloads; grain, up 6.1% to 22,289; and farm products (excluding grain) and food, up 5.7% to 18,062.

One commodity group posted a decrease: motor vehicles and parts, down 4.9% to 16,470.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads posted 92,580 carloads for the week, up 4%, and 73,175 intermodal units, down 6.3%. Mexican railroads carried 14,284 carloads, down 8.5%, and 14,070 intermodal units, up 21.1%.

For the first 25 weeks of 2026 compared with traffic in the same period in 2025:

• U.S. railroads hauled 12,666,593 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.3%
• Canadian railroads logged 4,117,982 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.5%
• Mexican railroads posted 643,697 carloads and intermodal units, up 7.8%