U.S. freight-rail volume climbs 5.4% in Week 15

U.S. freight-rail traffic rose 5.4% to 491,908 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending April 12 compared with the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Total carloads in the week rose 4.3% to 217,566, while intermodal volume increased 6.3% to 274,342 containers and trailers.

Three of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked by the AAR every week posted increases. They were coal, up 13.9% to 51,600 carloads; grain, up 17.7% to 24,119; and miscellaneous carloads, up 12.4% to 9,511.

Commodity groups that posted decreases included petroleum and petroleum products, down 5.9% to 9,778 carloads; nonmetallic minerals, down 1.7% to 31,076; and farm products excluding grain, and food, down 2.3% to 16,611. 

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 93,003 carloads for the week, up 1.1%, and 76,096 intermodal units, up 4.3% year-over-year. Mexican railroads posted 14,840 carloads, down 15.9%; and 11,605 intermodal units, down 9%.

For the first 15 weeks of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024:

• U.S. railroads posted 7,308,756 carloads and intermodal units, up 5%;

• Canadian railroads reported 2,390,505 carloads, containers and trailers, up 0.3%; and

• Mexican railroads logged 352,071 carloads and intermodal units, down 9.5%.