U.S. freight-rail traffic climbs 2.2% in Week 22

U.S. freight railroads moved 459,884 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending May 31, a 2.2% increase compared with traffic levels in the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Carloads for the week totaled 219,599 units, up 6.6%, while weekly intermodal volume totaled 240,285 containers and trailers, down 1.5%.

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked weekly by the AAR posted gains. They included coal, up 16.5% to 60,123 carloads; nonmetallic minerals, up 12.7% to 30,560; and chemicals, up 5.8% to 32,383. 

Commodity groups that posted decreases included motor vehicles and parts, down 6% to 13,887 carloads; forest products, down 7.5% to 7,832; and miscellaneous carloads, down 2.5% to 7,776. 

Canadian railroads logged 91,107 carloads in the week, up 3.5%, and 77,834 intermodal units, up 9.6%. Mexican railroads posted 16,435 carloads, up 11%, and 8,600 intermodal units, down 24.6%.

For the first 22 weeks of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024:
• U.S. railroads posted 10,740,527 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.8%;
• Canadian railroads reported 3,576,188 carloads, containers and trailers, up 0.9%; and
• Mexican railroads logged 510,288 carloads, containers and trailers, down 9.8%.