WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 6, 2026 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 2, 2026.
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 518,773 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.9 percent compared with the same week last year.
Total carloads for the week ending May 2 were 235,049 carloads, up 4.0 percent compared with the same week in 2025, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 283,724 containers and trailers, up 3.9 percent compared to 2025.
Nine of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2025. They included metallic ores and metals, up 3,950 carloads, to 23,164; grain, up 3,734 carloads, to 24,973; and nonmetallic minerals, up 1,602 carloads, to 32,530. One commodity group posted a decrease compared with the same week in 2025: coal, down 4,358 carloads, to 54,607.
For the first 17 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,837,643 carloads, up 3.6 percent from the same point last year; and 4,697,928 intermodal units, up 0.4 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 17 weeks of 2026 was 8,535,571 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 1.8 percent compared to last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending May 2, 2026, on 9 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 345,137 carloads, up 3.9 percent compared with the same week last year, and 372,439 intermodal units, up 3.0 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 717,576 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.4 percent. North American rail volume for the first 17 weeks of 2026 was 11,761,179 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.0 percent compared with 2025.
Canadian railroads reported 97,096 carloads for the week, up 2.9 percent, and 76,692 intermodal units, down 2.1 percent compared with the same week in 2025. For the first 17 weeks of 2026, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 2,773,152 carloads, containers and trailers, up 0.4 percent.
Mexican railroads reported 12,992 carloads for the week, up 8.9 percent compared with the same week last year, and 12,023 intermodal units, up 18.1 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 17 weeks of 2026 was 452,456 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 16.5 percent from the same point last year.
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For more information, contact: AAR Media Relations at media@aar.org or 202-639-2345.
About AAR: The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the world’s leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers. AAR members include the major freight railroads of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak. Learn more at www.aar.org.
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