United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending September 19, saw annual gains, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads, at 234,207, posted a 2.4% annual gain, topping the week ending September 12, at 223,565, and trailing the week ending September 5, at 234,397.
AAR reported that seven of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains: metallic ores and metals, up 3,073 carloads, to 23,420; nonmetallic minerals, up 2,209 carloads, to 33,629; and petroleum and petroleum products, up 1,326 carloads, to 11,976. Commodity groups posting annual declines were: coal, down 1,889 carloads, to 58,171; grain, down 1,778 carloads, to 21,369; and motor vehicles and parts, down 137 carloads, to 16,636.
Intermodal containers and trailers, at 301,456 units, saw a 6.9% annual gain, coming in ahead of the weeks ending September 12 and September 5, at 271,305, and 299,148, respectively.
Through the first 37 weeks of 2026, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads, at 8,444,095, are up 2.7% annually, and intermodal units, at 10,477,086, are up 4.1% annually.