Chemicals and grain helped offset weaker industrial and intermodal traffic as freight on U.S. railroads stayed narrowly ahead of year-ago levels.
U.S. weekly rail traffic totaled 502,252 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.2% for the week ending March 21 from the same period a year ago, according to data from the Association of American Railroads.
Commodity freight totaled 227,583 carloads, an increase of 1.2%, as intermodal volume of 274,669 containers and trailers also rose by 1.2%.
Five of the 10 carload commodity groups were better, led by chemicals, up 6.3%; farm products excluding grain, 4.3%; and grain, 3.4%.
Weaker categories included metallic ores and metals by 5.6%; forest products, 4.4%; and nonmetallic minerals, 1.1%.
For the first 11 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,450,275 carloads, up by 4.7%, and 3,029,315 intermodal units, a decrease of 0.4% y/y. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 11 weeks of 2026 was 5,479,590 carloads and intermodal units, ahead 1.8% from a year ago.
North American volume for the week on 9 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 331,402 carloads, down 0.2% compared with the same week in 2025, and 361,692 intermodal units, unchanged. Total combined weekly traffic was 693,094 carloads and intermodal units, off 0.1%. Volume for the first 11 weeks of 2026 was 7,531,662 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 2.1% from 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:
Transload provider bringing new life to dormant Maine rail lines
Vena says UP, NS have capacity to handle merger-related growth
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