Freight traffic on U.S. railroads enjoyed a banner week at the mid-year mark, as intermodal and carload shipments nearly tripled the rate of growth in the first half.
For the week ending June 13, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 520,406 carloads and intermodal units, up 7.2% from the same week a year ago.
Commodities and related goods increased 2.8% to 230,959 carloads, while intermodal volume of 289,447 containers and trailers was better by 10.9% compared to 2025.
Six of 10 commodity categories improved, led by months-long frontrunner grain, ahead by 21.7%. Metallic ores and metals turned in growth of 19.2%, which some analysts have linked to the breakout growth in construction of data centers.
Chemical shipments, which had shown steady improvement on surging industrial activity, gave up some of those gains as volume fell by 1.1% on-year. Forest products continued its up-and-down performance, off 1.6% this week.
At the year’s halfway point, U.S. railroads handled cumulative volume of 5,215,944 carloads, ahead 3.2%, and 6,403,177 intermodal units, an increase of 2.7% from a year ago. Total combined traffic was 11,619,121 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.9% y/y.
Rising truckload rates have seen railroads pick up substantial volume in domestic intermodal. International volumes are growing, too, as global fuel costs from the effects of the Iran war coupled with expectations of price hikes by Asian manufacturers spur frontloading by importers on the trans-Pacific.
North American rail volume for the week on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 337,700 carloads, up 1.7%, and 379,536 intermodal units, up 9.3% from this past year. Total combined traffic rose 5.6% to 717,236 carloads and intermodal units. Volume for the first 23 weeks of 2026 was 15,993,851 carloads and intermodal units, 2.5% ahead of 2025.
Subscribe to FreightWaves’ Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox.
Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
Related coverage:
Rate, service issues flagged by ag retailers in Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern rail merger
FreightWaves Today: Broad rail traffic gains show growing industrial economy
UP CEO says no thanks to potential government investment in $85B merger
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now