North American rail volume on nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads came in at 18,856,199 carloads and intermodal units for the 28-week period ending July 12, 2025, the AAR reported July 16. Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 13,627,921 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 3.9% from the same point last year; in Canada, 4,556,986 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.3%; and in Mexico, 671,292 carloads and intermodal units, down 6.5%.
Results were similar through the first 27 weeks of 2025 (ending July 5, 2025).
For the week ending July 12, 2025, U.S. Class I railroads carried 496,188 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.6% from the same point last year, according to the AAR. That comprised 223,968 carloads, up 4.1% from 2024, and 272,220 containers and trailers, up 1.4% from 2024.
Eight of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2024. They included coal, up 2,699 carloads, to 58,370; chemicals, up 1,931 carloads, to 32,599; and motor vehicles and parts, up 1,228 carloads, to 12,992. Commodity groups that posted declines were forest products, down 150 carloads, to 8,253; and metallic ores and metals, down 133 carloads, to 20,229.
For the first 28 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,133,836 carloads, up 2.6% from the same period in 2024; and 7,494,085 intermodal units, up 5.0% from 2024.
North American rail volume for the week ending July 12, 2025, on nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 328,098 carloads, up 4.7% compared with the same week last year, and 357,519 intermodal units, up 3.3% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America came in at 685,617 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.0%.
For the week ending July 12, 2025, Canadian railroads reported 88,255 carloads, up 1.6%, and 74,638 intermodal units, up 9.3% compared with the same week last year.
Mexican railroads reported 15,875 carloads for the week ending July 12, 2025, up 40.4% compared with the prior-year period, and 10,661 intermodal units, up 12.6%.
