U.S. Freight Rail Traffic Dips: Carloads Rise, Intermodal Falls

U.S. **freight railroad traffic** saw a slight dip, with a 1.8% decline. While **carloads** rose, a significant drop in intermodal units caused the decrease.

December 4, 2025 4:42 pm

U.S. freight railroads experienced a slight overall dip in traffic for the week ending November 29, 2025, with total carloads and intermodal units declining by 1.8% year-over-year. Despite a robust increase in carloads, a significant drop in intermodal volume led the overall decrease.

Key Entity	Critical Detail
U.S. Freight Railroads	Total traffic: 431,435 carloads & intermodal units (Week ending Nov. 29, 2025)
Core Action	Overall traffic down 1.8% YoY; Carloads up 4.3%; Intermodal down 6.5%
Key Commodities (Increase)	Coal (+9.2%), Nonmetallic Minerals (+13.9%), Grain (+13%)
Key Commodities (Decrease)	Miscellaneous (-13.4%), Forest Products (-11%), Chemicals (-2.2%)
International Comparison	Canadian railroads: Traffic up 2.6% (carloads), up 2.1% (intermodal). Mexican railroads: Carloads down 8.9%, intermodal up 19.4%.
Timeline	Week ending November 29, 2025, compared to week ending November 30, 2024. First 48 weeks of 2025 vs. 2024 comparison period.

Overall U.S. freight railroad traffic saw a marginal decline of 1.8% in the week ending November 29, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, hauling a total of 431,435 carloads and intermodal units. This figure masks a divergence in performance between the two segments: carloads surged by 4.3% to 197,955 units, while intermodal traffic experienced a substantial decrease of 6.5%, totaling 233,480 containers and trailers.

Operational Details and Commodity Performance

The positive trajectory in carload traffic was propelled by strong gains in several key commodity groups. Coal shipments saw a significant increase of 9.2%, reaching 56,972 carloads. Nonmetallic minerals also demonstrated robust growth, up 13.9% to 23,353 units, alongside a 13% rise in grain traffic to 21,019 carloads. These increases suggest sustained demand in foundational sectors of the economy, likely driven by industrial production and energy needs.

Conversely, a notable downturn was observed in other commodity sectors. Miscellaneous carloads declined by 13.4% to 6,769 units, and forest products saw a decrease of 11%, with 6,848 carloads. The chemicals sector also registered a slight contraction, down 2.2% to 29,583 carloads. These declines could indicate shifts in manufacturing output, consumer demand, or supply chain adjustments within these specific industries.

North American Traffic Overview

Beyond the U.S. market, Canadian railroads reported an overall positive trend, with carloads increasing by 2.6% to 90,821 units and intermodal traffic growing by 2.1% to 71,365 units. Mexican railroads showed a mixed performance, with carloads falling 8.9% to 13,375, but intermodal units surging by 19.4% to 15,231. These continental comparisons highlight varying economic conditions and trade dynamics across North America.

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Industry Context

The latest freight traffic data offers critical insights for industry leaders. While the overall slight decline in the U.S. may warrant attention, the divergent performance between carloads and intermodal traffic underscores evolving logistical patterns and supply chain strategies. The strong growth in commodities like coal and nonmetallic minerals points to continued reliance on rail for heavy industrial goods, whereas the dip in intermodal could reflect shifts in e-commerce fulfillment, global trade fluctuations, or the ongoing optimization of truck-rail integration. For rail executives and logistics professionals, understanding these granular shifts is paramount for strategic planning, infrastructure investment, and competitive positioning in the dynamic North American freight market.