U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 14, 2025 dipped slightly compared to the prior-year period but realized a modest gain through 2025’s first 24 weeks, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported June 18.
Total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 485,810 carloads and intermodal units, down 1.5% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads were 224,851, up 1.0% compared with the same week in 2024, while weekly intermodal volume was 260,959 containers and trailers, down 3.5% compared to 2024.
Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2024. They included coal, up 2,968 carloads, to 59,027; farm products excl. grain, and food, up 619 carloads, to 16,817; and grain, up 617 carloads, to 19,767. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2024 included petroleum and petroleum products, down 749 carloads, to 10,294; miscellaneous carloads, down 736 carloads, to 8,714; and metallic ores and metals, down 554 carloads, to 20,668.
For the first 24 weeks of 2025, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 5,250,685 carloads, up 2.5% from the same point last year; and 6,459,459 intermodal units, up 5.7% from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 24 weeks of 2025 was 11,710,144 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 4.2% compared to last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending June 14, 2025, on 9 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 332,361 carloads, up 0.9% compared with the same week last year, and 346,229 intermodal units, down 2.8% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 678,590 carloads and intermodal units, down 1.0%. North American rail volume for the first 24 weeks of 2025 was 16,180,193 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.9% compared with 2024.
Canadian railroads reported 90,981 carloads for the week, up 0.6%, and 74,753 intermodal units, up 0.2% compared with the same week in 2024. For the first 24 weeks of 2025, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,906,603 carloads, containers and trailers, up 1.0%. Mexican railroads reported 16,529 carloads for the week, up 0.9% compared with the same week last year, and 10,517 intermodal units, down 7.3%.
Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 24 weeks of 2025 was 563,446 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 9.1% from the same point last year.
