U.S. freight railroads post traffic uptick in Week 17

U.S. freight-rail traffic rose 3.9% to 518,773 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending May 2 compared with the traffic in the same week in 2025, according to Association of American Railroads data.

The railroads hauled 235,049 carloads during the week, a 4% increase, and 283,724 containers and trailers, a 3.9% increase.

Nine of the 10 carload commodities that AAR tracks every week logged an increase. Notable gainers include metallic ores and metals, up 20.6% to 23,164 carloads; grain, up 17.6% to 24,973; and nonmetallic minerals, up 5.2% to 32,530.

The sole commodity that posted a decrease was coal, down 7.4% to 54,607 carloads. 

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 97,096 carloads for the week, up 2.9%, and 76,692 intermodal units, down 2.1%. Mexican railroads hauled 12,992 carloads, an 8.9% increase, and 12,023 intermodal units, an 18.1% increase.

Cumulative traffic for the first 17 weeks of 2026 compared to 2025 shows:

• U.S. railroads logged 8,535,571 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.8%;
• Canadian railroads reported 2,773,152 carloads and intermodal units up 0.4%; and
• Mexican railroads posted 452,456 carloads and intermodal units, up 16.5%.