AAR: U.S. Carloads, Intermodal Up for Week 11

(CSX photo)

U.S. rail traffic for the week ending March 15, 2025 (Week 11), came in at 503,473 carloads and intermodal units, rising 6.2% from the same week last year, based on 226,027 carloads—up 3.1% from 2024—and intermodal volume of 277,446 containers and trailers—up 8.8%, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported March 19.

For the week ending March 15, 2025, six of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the prior-year period, according to the AAR. They included coal, up 5,956 carloads, to 61,459; metallic ores and metals, up 932 carloads, to 19,585; and nonmetallic minerals, up 380 carloads, to 29,705. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2024 included petroleum and petroleum products, down 352 carloads, to 9,599; farm products excl. grain, and food, down 148 carloads, to 17,240; and motor vehicles and parts, down 144 carloads, to 16,501.

For the first 11 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,314,766 carloads, dipping 1.1% from the same point in 2024; and 2,991,731 intermodal units, gaining 8.4% over 2024. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 11 weeks of this year was 5,306,497 carloads and intermodal units, increasing 4.1% from 2024.

North American rail volume for the week ending March 15, 2025, on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 334,557 carloads, notching up 1.0%, and 361,603 intermodal units, gaining 7.0% over the prior-year period. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 696,160 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.1%. North American rail volume for the first 11 weeks of this year came in at 7,270,749 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.5% compared with 2024.

Canadian railroads reported 92,864 carloads for the week ending March 15, 2025, down 3.3%, and 73,247 intermodal units, up 3.2% from the same week last year. For the first 11 weeks of this year, they reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 1,712,557 carloads, containers and trailers, down 0.6%.

For the week ending March 15, 2025, Mexican railroads reported 15,666 carloads, a 1.5% drop-off, and 10,910 intermodal units, an 8.4% dip from the same point last year. Their cumulative volume for the first 11 weeks of 2025 came in at 251,695 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, decreasing 8.2% from year-ago period.