WASHINGTON — Carload, intermodal and overall U.S. rail traffic remained narrowly ahead of 2025 levels in the week ending March 14, 2026, according to the Association of American Railroads.
AAR figures show total traffic for the week was 508,737 carloads and intermodal units, a 1.1% increase over the same week a year ago. The 228,299 carloads represent a 1% increase while the 280,438 containers and trailers are a 1.1% gain.
Through 10 weeks, 2026 volume is 4,977,338 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.9% over the same period a year ago. That includes 2,222,692 carloads, up 5%, and 2,7954,646 intermodal units, down 0.5%.
North American traffic for the week, as reported by nine U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads, includes 330,589 carloads, down 0.8% from the corresponding week in 2025, and 368,448 intermodal units, up 1.7%. The total of 699,037 carloads and intermodal units is a gain of 0.5%. For the year to date, total volume is 6,849,595 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 2.4% over the first 10 weeks of 2025.
In Canada, railroads reported 88,636 carloads for the week, down 4.7% from the same week last year, and 727,706 intermodal units, down 0.5%. For the year to date, the cumulative volume of 1,599,541 carloads and intermodal units is up 1.9% from the same period last year.
Mexican traffic included 13,654 carloads for the week, down 4.6% from the same week last year, and 15,304 intermodal units, up 31.8%. The ten-week total of 272,716 carloads and intermodal units is an increase of 18.3 from the same point last year.
Share this article
