U.S. freight-rail traffic continues upward trend in Week 40

U.S. freight railroads hauled 534,256 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending Oct. 10, up 7.2% compared with traffic from the same week in 2025, according to Association of American Railroads data. 

Carloads for the week totaled 232,004, up 3.4%, while weekly intermodal volume totaled 302,252 containers and trailers, up 10.4%.

Eight of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked by the AAR each week posted gains. They included metallic ores and metals, up 19.7%, to 22,048; miscellaneous carloads, up 17.4%, to 10,508; and motor vehicles and parts, up 9.4%, to 16,863.

The commodity groups that posted carload decreases were coal, down 2% to 57,526, and farm products (excluding grain) and food, down 5.6% to 16,863. 

For the week, Canadian railroads reported 95,045 carloads, down 0.1%, and 71,855 intermodal units, up 1.9%. Mexican railroads posted 11,408 carloads, up 10.3%, and 12,839 intermodal units, up 22.9%.

For the first 40 weeks of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025:

• U.S. railroads posted 20,522,546 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.6%;
• Canadian railroads reported 6,584,977 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.3%; and
• Mexican railroads logged 989,455 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.5%.