United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending December 6, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads, at 228,823, rose 1.7% annually, topping the week ending November 29, at 197,955, which was likely impacted by the timing of the Thanksgiving holiday, and trailing the week ending November 22, at 234,592.
AAR reported that five of the 10 carload commodity groups saw annual gains, including: coal, up 3,147 carloads, to 61,026; grain, up 1,952 carloads, to 25,098; and nonmetallic minerals, up 1,161 carloads, to 29,330. Commodity groups seeing annual declines included: chemicals, down 1,054 carloads, to 32,548; metallic ores and metals, down 601 carloads, to 19,706; and miscellaneous carloads, down 387 carloads, to 8,897.
Weekly intermodal containers and trailers, at 280,176 units, fell 5.4% annually, topping the weeks ending November 29 and November 22, at 234,860, and 234,592, respectively.
Through the first 49 weeks of 2025, AAR said that U.S. rail carload volume, at 10,889,132 carloads, is up 1.8% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 13,227,231 units, is also up 1.8% annually.
