Intermodal leads U.S. rail traffic up 6.6% from a year ago

In the week ending November 7, rail traffic among U.S. carriers increased by 6.6% compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the Association of American Railroads. This surge was primarily fueled by an 11% rise in intermodal shipments. Carload freight volume grew by 1.3% from the previous year.

Seven out of the top ten commodity groups experienced positive growth in rail traffic. Motor vehicles and parts were at the forefront, climbing by 10.4%, followed closely by forest products with a 10.1% increase. Metallic ores and metals also saw a 6.4% boost.

However, not all freight categories fared well. Grain shipments fell by 2.4%, nonmetallic minerals declined by 1.7%, and coal shrank by 1.2% due to reduced volumes.

As of the first 44 weeks of 2026, overall U.S. rail traffic rose by 3.9% compared to the same period in 2025. Intermodal volumes grew by 4.9%, while carloads increased by 2.7%. Grain remained the fastest-growing freight category for the year-to-date, up by 9.7%, despite its weekly drop. Metallic ores and metals and petroleum and petroleum products also recorded significant gains of 8.8% and 7.7%, respectively. Coal was the sole commodity group lagging behind its year-earlier cumulative level, declining by 1.6%.

Across the nine U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, combined weekly traffic saw a 6.7% increase year-over-year. Intermodal shipments rose by 10.5%, while carload freight volume expanded by 2.7%. North American rail traffic reached a total of 3.4% growth through the first 44 weeks of the year.