U.S. rail freight maintained its solid momentum in the most recent reporting week, with total traffic rising 4.2% from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported.
U.S. railroads reported a combined 532,462 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending August 22. Carloads were up 3.2% year over year to 235,885 units, while intermodal traffic was up 5% at 296,577 containers and trailers for the same week in 2025.
The latest figures also suggest a broader improvement in a range of commodity sectors. Of the 10 carload commodity groups the AAR tracks, seven posted year-over-year increases.
Metallic ores and metals were up 9.5% and grain shipments up 9%. On the positive side, chemicals also turned positive, up 6% after several weeks of declines.
Not all categories were open. Motor vehicle and parts down 10.4% versus the same week last year.
U.S. railroads reported 7,511,910 carloads in the first 33 weeks of 2026 for the year-to-date, up 2.7% from the same period in 2025. Intermodal volumes were up 3.8% year-over-year to 9,301,986 units.
U.S. traffic for the first 33 weeks amounted to 16,813,896 carloads and intermodal units, a 3.3% increase from the previous year.
Rail activity in North America was also stronger. Nine U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads reported a weekly volume of 340,627 carloads, up 5.5% from the same week last year. Intermodal traffic was 387,545 units, an increase of 5.6%.
North American railroads reported combined traffic of 728,172 carloads and intermodal units for the week, an increase of 5.6% compared with the same week in 2025.
North American rail traffic for the first 33 weeks of 2026 totaled 23,071,332 carloads and intermodal units, up 3% versus 2025.
The latest numbers point to continued strength in North American rail freight, with intermodal activity continuing on its upward path and a number of major commodity groups, including chemicals and grain, adding to the weekly gains.
