U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Dec. 27, 2025 saw a slight uptick, the Association of American Railroads reported Dec. 31. Volume totaled 392,295 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.7% compared with the same week last year, with carload gains partially offset by intermodal softness.
Total carloads for the week ending Dec. 27 were 188,673 carloads, up 2.5% compared with the same week in 2024, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 203,622 containers and trailers, down 1.0% compared to 2024.
Six of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2024. They included coal, up 5,037 carloads, to 55,823; motor vehicles and parts, up 1,779 carloads, to 9,910; and grain, up 1,099 carloads, to 20,579. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2024 included chemicals, down 2,166 carloads, to 28,533; miscellaneous carloads, down 1,203 carloads, to 6,258; and forest products, down 452 carloads, to 6,750.
For the first 52 weeks of 2025, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 11,509,099 carloads, up 1.5% from the same point last year; and 14,055,601 intermodal units, up 1.5% from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 52 weeks of 2025 was 25,564,700 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 1.5% compared to last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending Dec. 27, 2025, on 9 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 272,344 carloads, down 0.9% compared with the same week last year, and 269,132 intermodal units, up 0.4% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 541,476 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.2%. North American rail volume for the first 52 weeks of 2025 was 35,187,322 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.4% compared with 2024.
Canadian railroads reported 74,120 carloads for the week, down 7.0%, and 54,633 intermodal units, up 4.9% compared with the same week in 2024. For the first 52 weeks of 2025, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 8,387,041 carloads, containers and trailers, up 2.0%.
Mexican railroads reported 9,551 carloads for the week, down 12.9% compared with the same week last year, and 10,877 intermodal units, up 5.4%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 52 weeks of 2025 was 1,235,581 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 5.5% from the same point last year.
