The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 1, 2026. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 526,410 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.4 percent compared with the same week last year.

Total carloads for the week ending August 1 were 233,171 carloads, down 0.4 percent compared with the same week in 2025, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 293,239 containers and trailers, up 4.8 percent compared to 2025.

Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2025. They included metallic ores and metals, up 2,006 carloads, to 24,050; farm products excl. grain, and food, up 890 carloads, to 17,426; and grain, up 865 carloads, to 22,509. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2025 were coal, down 4,760 carloads, to 57,451; motor vehicles and parts, down 833 carloads, to 14,990; and chemicals, down 794 carloads, to 33,492.

For the first 30 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 6,811,496 carloads, up 2.7 percent from the same point last year; and 8,418,215 intermodal units, up 3.8 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 30 weeks of 2026 was 15,229,711 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 3.3 percent compared to last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending August 1, 2026, on 9 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 335,697 carloads, up 0.5 percent compared with the same week last year, and 377,702 intermodal units, up 4.3 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 713,399 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.5 percent. North American rail volume for the first 30 weeks of 2026 was 20,931,511 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.9 percent compared with 2025.

Canadian railroads reported 90,816 carloads for the week, up 2.6 percent, and 72,146 intermodal units, down 0.1 percent compared with the same week in 2025. For the first 30 weeks of 2026, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 4,922,416 carloads, containers and trailers, up 0.6 percent.

Mexican railroads reported 11,710 carloads for the week, up 4.0 percent compared with the same week last year, and 12,317 intermodal units, up 21.0 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 30 weeks of 2026 was 779,384 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 11.5 percent from the same point last year.

-via Press Release