AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Slightly Through Week 44

North American rail volume on nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads came in at 29,913,818 carloads and intermodal units for the 44-week period ending Nov. 1, 2025, the AAR reported Nov. 5. Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 21,722,446 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 2.4% from the same point last year; in Canada, 7,132,476 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.7%; and in Mexico, 1,058,896 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.7%.

Results were similar through the first 43 weeks of 2025 (ending Oct. 25, 2025).

For the week ending Nov. 1, 2025, total U.S. rail traffic was 496,928 carloads and intermodal units, a 3.9% drop-off from the same week last year, according to the AAR. Total carloads came in at 227,209, down 0.7%, and intermodal volume was 269,719 containers and trailers, down 6.4%.

Four of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same point in 2024. They included grain, up 1,521 carloads, to 25,171; metallic ores and metals, up 1,097 carloads, to 21,151; and miscellaneous carloads, up 780 carloads, to 9,517. Commodity groups that posted declines included coal, down 1,878 carloads, to 55,508; motor vehicles and parts, down 1,672 carloads, to 14,917; and nonmetallic minerals, down 564 carloads, to 32,563.

For the first 44 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 9,780,010 carloads, rising 1.9% from the same period in 2024; and 11,942,436 intermodal units, increasing 2.8% from 2024.

North American rail volume for the week ending Nov. 1, 2025, on nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 333,804 carloads, dipping 1.9% from the same week last year, and 354,860 intermodal units, falling 4.2% from last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America came in at 688,664 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.1%.

For the week ending Nov. 1, 2025, Canadian railroads reported 95,112 carloads, down 1.8%, and 71,350 intermodal units, up 1.9% from the same week in 2024.

Mexican railroads reported 11,483 carloads for the week ending Nov. 1, 2025, dropping 21.3% from the same week last year, and 13,791 intermodal units, increasing 12.9% from last year.