U.S. freight railroads post 7.8% traffic increase in Week 22

U.S. freight-rail traffic totaled 521,804 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending June 6, a 7.8% increase compared with volume in the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Carloads in the week totaled 228,076, up 1%, while intermodal volume reached 293,728 containers and trailers, up 13.6%.

Six of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked by the AAR each week posted volume increases. They include metallic ores and metals, up 9.1% to 22,295; grain, up 9.2% to 21,867; and motor vehicles and parts, up 6.1% to 16,936. Three commodity groups logged decreases: coal, down 4.2% to 55,727; miscellaneous carloads, down 8.3% to 9,173; and chemicals, down 1.8% to 32,110. 

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 92,154 carloads for the week, up 3%, and 72,906 intermodal units, down 3.2%. Mexican railroads posted 12,800 carloads, up 4.7%, and 13,522 intermodal units, up 54%.

In the first 22 weeks of 2026 compared with traffic in the same period in 2025:

• U.S. railroads reported 11,098,715 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.7%;
• Canadian railroads posted 3,619,022 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.5%; and
• Mexican railroads logged 563,433 carloads and intermodal units, up 9.5%