U.S. rail intermodal volume reached 289,447 containers and trailers for the week ending June 13, 2026 — up 10.9% year-on-year — outpacing carload growth (2.8%) and widening the gap between the two rail freight modes. Cumulative intermodal units for the first half totaled 6,403,177, rising 2.7% versus 2025, while total combined traffic stood at 11,619,121 units, up 2.9% y/y. North American rail volume across nine U.S., Canadian, and Mexican carriers showed intermodal growth of 9.3% and carload growth of 1.7%. Rising truckload rates and trans-Pacific frontloading — driven by Iran war–related fuel cost pressures and anticipated Asian manufacturer price hikes — are cited as key demand drivers.
Freight traffic on U.S. railroads enjoyed a banner week at the mid-year mark, as intermodal and carload shipments nearly tripled the rate of growth in the first half.
Weekly Traffic Surges Across Modes
For the week ending June 13, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 520,406 carloads and intermodal units, up 7.2% from the same week a year ago.
Commodities and related goods increased 2.8% to 230,959 carloads, while intermodal volume of 289,447 containers and trailers was better by 10.9% compared to 2025.
Six of 10 commodity categories improved, led by months-long frontrunner grain, ahead by 21.7%. Metallic ores and metals turned in growth of 19.2%, which some analysts have linked to the breakout growth in construction of data centers.
Chemical shipments, which had shown steady improvement on surging industrial activity, gave up some of those gains as volume fell by 1.1% on-year. Forest products continued its up-and-down performance, off 1.6% this week.
Year-to-Date Cumulative Volumes
At the year’s halfway point, U.S. railroads handled cumulative volume of 5,215,944 carloads, ahead 3.2%, and 6,403,177 intermodal units, an increase of 2.7% from a year ago. Total combined traffic was 11,619,121 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.9% y/y.
North American Cross-Border Performance
North American rail volume for the week on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 337,700 carloads, up 1.7%, and 379,536 intermodal units, up 9.3% from this past year. Total combined traffic rose 5.6% to 717,236 carloads and intermodal units.
Volume for the first 23 weeks of 2026 was 15,993,851 carloads and intermodal units, 2.5% ahead of 2025.
Drivers Behind Intermodal Acceleration
Rising truckload rates have seen railroads pick up substantial volume in domestic intermodal. International volumes are growing, too, as global fuel costs from the effects of the Iran war coupled with expectations of price hikes by Asian manufacturers spur frontloading by importers on the trans-Pacific.
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Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
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Source: FreightWaves
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
