U.S. freight-rail traffic climbs 1.1% in Week 2

U.S. freight-rail traffic rose 1.1% to 505,385 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Jan. 17, compared with volume in the same week in 2025, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Carloads totaled 224,783, up 3.9%, while intermodal volume totaled 280,602 containers and trailers, down 1.1%.

Three of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked by AAR each week logged increases. They were grain, up 24.5% to 25,786 carloads; nonmetallic minerals, up 14.7% to 28,232; and metallic ores and metals, up 12.9% to 19,973.

Commodity groups that logged decreases in carloads included chemicals, down 2.2% to 33,412 carloads; motor vehicles and parts, down 3.3% to 13,306; and coal, down 0.7% to 58,641.

Canadian railroads reported 90,331 carloads for the week, down 1.9%, and 71,246 intermodal units, down 2.6%. Mexican railroads posted 12,780 carloads, up 13.8%, and 15,430 intermodal units, up 60.9%.

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

• U.S. railroads posted total rail traffic of 1,015,842 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.2%;
• Canadian railroads reported 319,802 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.5%; and
• Mexican railroads logged 56,012 carloads and intermodal units, up 43.7%.