Weekly rail traffic across U.S. railroads reached 494,865 carloads and intermodal units in the week ended Sept. 12, marking a 3.7% decline from the same week in 2025.

Commodity freight accounted for 223,560 carloads, down 3.3% year over year, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Intermodal traffic was weaker, with 271,305 containers and trailers recorded during the week, representing a 4.1% decline from the comparable period last year.

The week stood out as a relatively rare off-week for U.S. rail traffic, with both major segments moving lower and intermodal experiencing the sharper decline.

Only three of the 10 commodity carload groups tracked by the AAR recorded year-over-year growth. Grain was the strongest performer, increasing 17.3%. Petroleum and petroleum products followed with a 6.5% gain, while forest products rose 2.1%.

On the other side of the ledger, motor vehicles and parts posted the steepest decline, falling 18.8%. Chemicals were down 9.2%, while nonmetallic minerals decreased 6%.

U.S. Rail Traffic1
Week 36, 2026 – Ended September 12, 2026
This Week Year-To-Date
Cars vs 2025 Cumulative Avg/wk2 vs 2025
Total Carloads 223,560 -3.3% 8,209,888 228,052 2.7%
Chemicals 31,714 -9.2% 1,215,145 33,754 2.1%
Coal 58,408 -3.7% 2,064,254 57,340 -1.8%
Farm Products excl. Grain, and Food 16,220 -1.0% 628,134 17,448 4.2%
Forest Products 8,342 2.1% 300,063 8,335 1.1%
Grain 23,507 17.3% 849,013 23,584 12.6%
Metallic Ores and Metals 21,025 -2.5% 768,500 21,347 7.7%
Motor Vehicles and Parts 14,295 -18.8% 557,438 15,484 -0.9%
Nonmetallic Minerals 30,800 -6.0% 1,101,875 30,608 2.3%
Petroleum and Petroleum Products 10,901 6.5% 397,568 11,044 7.5%
Other 8,348 -5.1% 327,898 9,108 0.4%
Total Intermodal Units 271,305 -4.1% 10,175,630 282,656 4.0%
Total Traffic 494,865 -3.7% 18,385,518 510,709 3.4%

1 Excludes U.S. operations of CPKC, CN and GMXT.

2 Average per week figures may not sum to totals as a result of independent rounding.

Chart: Association of American Railroads (AAR)

Despite the weaker weekly figures, rail traffic remained ahead of 2025 levels on a year-to-date basis. During the first 36 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads recorded 8,209,888 carloads, an increase of 2.7% compared with the same period last year. Intermodal volume reached 10,175,630 units, up 4%.

Combined U.S. traffic for the first 36 weeks totaled 18,385,518 carloads and intermodal units, representing a 3.4% increase from a year earlier.

The picture was also softer across North America during the week. Across nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads, volume totaled 326,500 carloads, down 3.3% from 2025. Intermodal traffic reached 353,081 units, a decrease of 3.8%.

Combined North American traffic therefore came to 679,581 carloads and intermodal units for the week, 3.6% below the corresponding week in 2025.

For the first 36 weeks of the year, however, North American railroads reported 25,216,803 carloads and intermodal units, representing a 3% year-over-year gain.

The AAR chart excludes U.S. operations of CPKC, CN and GMXT. Average-per-week figures may not sum precisely to cumulative totals because of independent rounding.