U.S. Rail Volume Edges Up 1.1% as Grain Shipments Rally

Key Details U.S. rail traffic showed modest growth this week, with total carloads and intermodal units reaching 508,737 - up just 1.1% year-over-year. Carloads increased 1% to 228,299 units, while containers and trailers grew 1.1% to 280,438 units. Why It Matters Grain shipments led the recovery, surging 18.4% week-over-week and driving six of ten commodity groups into positive territory. Petroleum products also posted strong gains at 11.3%, suggesting improving demand in these sectors. Softer Segments Not all commodities shared the momentum. Metallic ores and metals dropped 8.1% after previous gains, while forest products declined 8%, signaling uneven market conditions. Year-to-Date Trends Through the first 10 weeks of 2026, combined U.S. rail volume sits at 4,977,338 units, up 1.9%. However, intermodal services remain soft, with J.B. Hunt reporting that depressed rates haven't captured trucking market share, as the truckload sector continues strengthening. North American combined traffic across U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 699,037 units for the week, up 0.5%.