U.S. freight-rail traffic climbs 6.2% in Week 6

U.S. freight railroads rose 6.2% to 510,399 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending Feb. 14 compared with traffic from the same week in 2025, according to Association of American Railroads data. 

Carloads for the week totaled 225,283, up 7.7%, while weekly intermodal volume reached 285,116 containers and trailers, up 5%. 

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups tracked by the AAR posted an increase in weekly traffic compared with the same week last year. Gainers included grain, up 41.6% to 27,822 carloads; coal, up 7.2% to 58,413; and chemicals, up 5.2% to 33,957. 

The carload commodity groups that posted declines were motor vehicles and parts, down 1.2% to 14,608 carloads; forest products, down 2.1% to 8,074; and miscellaneous, down 0.6% to 8,374.

Canadian railroads reported 94,385 carloads for the week, up 8.5%, and 72,528 intermodal units, up 10.6%. Mexican railroads posted 13,483 carloads, up 5.1%, and 14,447 intermodal units, up 22.8%. 

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

• U.S. railroads posted 2,929,164 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.4%;
• Canadian railroads reported 947,293 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.2%; and 
• Mexican railroads logged 158,887 carloads and intermodal units, up 26.4%.