United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending May 24, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
Rail carloads, at 226,091, saw a 3.8% annual gain, trailing the week ending May 17, at 229,226, and topping the week ending May 10, at 222,238.
AAR reported that five of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: coal, up 6,096 carloads, to 56,416; miscellaneous carloads, up 1,703 carloads, to 10,537; and nonmetallic minerals, up 1,090 carloads, to 32,051. Commodity groups posting declines included: petroleum and petroleum products, down 778 carloads, to 10,559; chemicals, down 358 carloads, to 33,088; and forest products, down 247 carloads, to 8,343.
Intermodal containers and trailers, at 262,618 units, were off 1.8% annually, topping the week ending May 17, at 261,549, and trailing the week ending May 10, at 273,314.
Through the first 21 weeks of 2025, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads, at 4,580,934, are up 2.3% annually, and intermodal units, at 5,699,709, are up 7.0% annually.
