U.S. Freight Rail Traffic Edges Higher in Week 12

U.S. freight rail traffic rose slightly in Week 12. Total volume reached 515,921 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending March 28. The increase came from stronger intermodal volume, while carloads fell from a year earlier.

U.S. freight rail traffic by segment

The Association of American Railroads reported 233,833 weekly carloads, down 0.8% year over year. Intermodal volume reached 282,088 containers and trailers, up 1.6%.

Among the 10 carload commodity groups the AAR tracks each week, six posted increases. Chemicals rose 5.9% to 36,589 units. Petroleum and petroleum products increased 11.2% to 11,239 units. Grain climbed 3.5% to 24,010 carloads.

Don’t miss…STB Proposes New Freight-rail Productivity Rate Adjustment

Several other commodity groups posted declines. Coal fell 8.4% to 57,636 units. Nonmetallic minerals dropped 3.8% to 30,174 units. Metallic ores and metals decreased 2% to 20,201 carloads.

Canada and Mexico totals in Week 12 and early 2026

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported 94,298 carloads for the week, down 2.4%. They also reported 73,994 intermodal units, down 4.8%. Separately, Mexican railroads posted 14,083 carloads, down 18.5%. They also posted 15,466 intermodal units, up 16.9%.

For the first 12 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads posted 5,995,511 carloads and intermodal units. As Progressive Railroading reported, that was up 1.7% from the same 2025 period. Canadian railroads reported 1,932,183 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.9%. Mexican railroads logged 317,730 carloads and intermodal units, up 10.2%.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed: