U.S. freight-rail traffic dips 2.5% in Week 4

U.S. freight railroads hauled 454,797 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Jan. 25, a 2.5% decrease compared with volume in the same week in 2024, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Carloads for the week totaled 189,125, down 8.8%, while intermodal units reached 265,672 containers and trailers, up 2.5%.

One of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked weekly by the AAR posted an increase for the week: Farm products excluding grain, and food, increased 2.3% to 16,180 carloads. 

Commodity groups posting decreases included nonmetallic minerals, down 17.7% to 19,173 carloads; coal, down 7.3% to 52,514; and metallic ores and metals down 16.9% to 16,218.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 88,763 carloads for the week, up 1.9%, and 67,323 intermodal units, down 0.2%. Mexican railroads reported 14,527 carloads for the week, a 10.6% increase, and 11,993 intermodal units, up 27.4%.

North American rail traffic for the week totaled 292,415 carloads, a 4.9% decrease, and 344,988 intermodal units, a 2.7% increase. 

For the first four weeks of 2025 compared to 2024:
• U.S. railroads logged 1,841,757 carloads and intermodal units, up 6%;
• Canadian railroads posted 626,350 carloads, containers and trailers, up 8.1%;
• Mexican railroads reported 97,988 carloads and intermodal units, up 16.3%; and
• North American railroads combined hauled 2,566,095 carloads, containers and trailers, up 6.8%.