U.S. freight railroads post 4.5% traffic growth in Week 16

U.S. freight-rail traffic rose 4.5% to 496,053 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending April 19 compared to the same period a year ago, according Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Railroads reported 224,436 carloads for the week, up 3.4%, and 271,617 containers and trailers, up 5.4%.

Three of the 10 carload commodity groups that AAR tracks every week posted increases. They were coal, up 21.3% to 57,595 carloads; miscellaneous carloads, up 6.5% to 10,057; and farm products excluding grain, and food, up 0.1% to 16,722.

Commodity groups that posted decreases included petroleum and petroleum products, down 10.3% to 9,652 carloads; nonmetallic minerals, down 3.1% to 30,795; and motor vehicles and parts, down 2.4% to 16,459.

Meanwhile, Canadian freight-rail traffic for the week totaled 91,382 carloads, down 5.5%, and 73,995 intermodal units, down 2.5%. Mexican trains hauled 13,527 carloads, down 20.7%, and 10,739 intermodal units, down 15.7%.

For the first 16 weeks of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024:

• U.S. railroads posted combined traffic of 7,804,809 carloads and intermodal units, up 5%;

• Canadian railroads reported 2,555,882 carloads, containers and trailers, no change; and

• Mexican railroads posted 376,337 carloads and intermodal units, down 10.1%.