U.S. freight-rail traffic climbs 2.9% in Week 31

U.S. freight-rail traffic rose 2.9% to 513,529 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Aug. 2 compared with traffic results in the same week in 2024, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Railroads hauled 233,805 carloads, a 6.4% increase, and 279,724 containers and trailers, a 0.2% increase.

Nine of the 10 carload commodities that AAR tracks weekly logged an increase. Gainers included grain, up 25.7% to 21,557 carloads; coal, up 4.9% to 61,962; and motor vehicles and parts, up 10.2% to 15,822 carloads. The commodity group that posted a decrease was petroleum and petroleum products, down 1.7% to 10,829 carloads.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 88,410 carloads for the week, down 2.2%, and 72,286 intermodal units, up 13%. Mexican railroads reported 15,356 carloads, a 19.1% increase, and 11,079 intermodal units, a 8.2% increase

For the first 31 weeks of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024:
• U.S. railroads reported 15,162,611 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.8%;
• Canadian railroads posted 5,035,654 carloads, containers and trailers, up 1.6%; and
• Mexican railroads logged 745,152 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.1%.