U.S. freight-rail traffic increased slightly in Week 14

U.S. freight railroads hauled 500,040 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending April 11, up 1.7% compared with the same week in 2025, according to Association of American Railroads data.

The railroads hauled 228,666 carloads in the period, up 5.1% year over year, and 271,374 containers and trailers, down 1.1%.

Of the 10 carload commodity groups that AAR tracks weekly, seven logged increases during the week. Gainers included coal, up 13% to 58,309; chemicals, up 7.5% to 34,647; and farm products excluding grain and food, up 6.2% to 17,633.

The groups that posted decreases were motor vehicles and parts, down 6.5% to 15,199; grain, down 2% to 23,651; and miscellaneous carloads, down 4.5% to 9,065.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 96,295 carloads for the week, up 3.3%, and 73,502 intermodal units, down 3.2%. Mexican railroads hauled 13,905 carloads in the period, up 25.4%, and 13,702 intermodal units, up 27.2%.

Through the first 14 weeks of 2026 compared with traffic in the same 2025 period:

• U.S. railroads reported 6,996,879 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.6%;
• Canadian railroads posted 2,264,302 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.7%; and
• Mexican railroads carried 370,676 carloads and intermodal units, up 14.2%.