WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 3, 2026 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 30, 2026.
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 492,795 carloads and intermodal units, up 7.2 percent compared with the same week last year.
Total carloads for the week ending May 30 were 228,346 carloads, up 4.0 percent compared with the same week in 2025, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 264,449 containers and trailers, up 10.0 percent compared to 2025.
Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2025. They included grain, up 6,696 carloads, to 26,529; metallic ores and metals, up 3,971 carloads, to 24,329; and miscellaneous carloads, up 1,572 carloads, to 9,343. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2025 were coal, down 5,394 carloads, to 54,722; nonmetallic minerals, down 737 carloads, to 29,826; and petroleum and petroleum products, down 365 carloads, to 10,256.
For the first 21 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 4,756,909 carloads, up 3.4 percent from the same point last year; and 5,820,002 intermodal units, up 1.8 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 21 weeks of 2026 was 10,576,911 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 2.5 percent compared to last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending May 30, 2026, on 9 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 336,920 carloads, up 2.7 percent compared with the same week last year, and 353,702 intermodal units, up 7.2 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 690,622 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.9 percent. North American rail volume for the first 21 weeks of 2026 was 14,567,984 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.3 percent compared with 2025.
Canadian railroads reported 94,408 carloads for the week, up 3.5 percent, and 74,786 intermodal units, down 3.8 percent compared with the same week in 2025. For the first 21 weeks of 2026, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,453,962 carloads, containers and trailers, up 0.6 percent.
Mexican railroads reported 14,166 carloads for the week, down 18.4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 14,467 intermodal units, up 20.5 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 21 weeks of 2026 was 537,111 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 8.9 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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