Association of American Railroads

Commentary

‘Harley’ Explains it All

On Oct. 14, 2025, the 45th anniversary of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 signing, the Association of American Railroads launched a new website, “Harley Explains,” hosted by a folksy, bearded, ponytailed,

(CNW Group/Fastfrate Group)

AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Uptick Continues in Week 40

The Association of American Railroads in reporting freight rail traffic for the week ending Oct. 4, 2025 (Week 40) noted that total U.S. rail traffic was 503,538 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.6% from the prior-year period. Total carloads for the week came in at 224,972, up 0.002% from the same week in 2024, and intermodal volume was 278,566 containers and trailers, up 6.7% from last year.

(Screen Grab from Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Video)

Confirmed: David Armstrong Fink as Federal Railroad Administrator

By a 50-47 party line vote in the Senate, David Armstrong Fink was confirmed Oct. 7 as the nation’s 16th Federal Railroad Administrator. Although the Senate Commerce Committee made a favorable recommendation for confirmation in May, party politics delayed the floor vote on Fink’s and 107 others Presidential nominations.

(BNSF Photograph)

AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Up Slightly Overall

U.S. rail traffic rose modestly for the week ending Sept. 27 and realized a slight gain through 2025’s first 39 weeks, vs. the same points last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Oct. 1.

  • News

Nelson Returns to MxV Rail as Executive Director of SERTC

Association of American Railroads (AAR) subsidiary MxV Rail on Sept. 30 announced that Lee Nelson has been selected as Executive Director of the Security and Emergency Training Center (SERTC). He brings more than two decades of hazardous materials emergency response expertise and returns to SERTC during a period of “transformative growth and modernization.”

AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Down in Week 38

The Association of American Railroads in reporting freight rail traffic for the week ending Sept. 20, 2025 (Week 38) noted that total U.S. rail traffic was 510,677 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.2% from the prior-year period. Total carloads for the week came in at 228,609, dipping 1.8% from the same week in 2024, and intermodal volume was 282,068 containers and trailers, dipping 2.5% from last year.

NS Introduces Triple Crown Services, Inc.

Norfolk Southern (NS) recently announced that it has created Triple Crown Services, Inc. (TCSI), a single-source solution for motor carrier and brokerage services that “puts customers first.”

STB Sets 4Q25 Rail Cost Adjustment Factor

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has adopted for fourth-quarter 2025 the rail cost adjustment factor (RCAF), which is defined as “an index formulated to represent changes in railroad costs incurred by the nation’s largest railroads over a specified period of time.”

AAR Week 37: Rail Traffic Dips Slightly Overall

For 2025’s 37th week, North American freight rail traffic declined marginally, with carloads falling 0.5% and intermodal down 1.3%, compared to 2024, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Sept. 17. U.S.