Rail freight activity across the United States dipped 4 % in the first week of 2026, with combined carloads and intermodal units falling to 404,293 units — reflecting softness in both traditional freight and container‑oriented movements compared with the same week a year earlier.
Data from the Association of American Railroads (AAR) shows that intermodal volumes, which include containers and trailers critical to international trade and e‑commerce supply chains, were down about 5.1 % year‑over‑year, while basic carload traffic declined roughly 2.8 %. Only a handful of commodity categories — such as chemicals and grain — posted modest weekly gains.
Rail traffic data for late 2025 also highlighted periodic week‑to‑week declines in intermodal shipments and overall rail volume, a trend seen through autumn and winter as demand dynamics and freight flows adjust after the busiest months of the year.
While short‑term weekly declines can reflect seasonal volatility and calendar effects, the early 2026 drop underscores ongoing challenges for rail supply chains, particularly in container traffic tied to global trade and inland freight connections. Logistics planners and freight network managers will be watching upcoming data to see whether these early‑year softness signals persist or reverse as industrial demand, port throughput and intermodal cycles evolve.
#BreakingNews #SupplyChainNews #RailFreight #LogisticsUpdate #FreightTraffic
