Intermodal rail volumes surged last week as shippers increasingly turned to rail from trucks, driven by strengthening truck rates and an early peak season that has boosted international volumes through U.S. ports.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported that total U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 13 reached 520,406 carloads and intermodal units, up 7.2% from the same week a year ago. Carloads totaled 230,959 units, a gain of 2.8%, while intermodal volume—containers and trailers—hit 289,447 units, a 10.9% increase year-over-year.
Shift from truck to rail
Intermodal’s improvement comes as strengthening truck rates push domestic freight conversions to less expensive rail, according to the report. At the same time, an early start to the peak shipping season has international volumes surging through U.S. ports, further boosting intermodal demand.
Commodity-level performance
Six of the 10 carload commodity groups posted year-over-year gains. Grain led the winners, up 21.7%, followed by metallic ores and metals used in steelmaking, which increased 19.2%. U.S. grain exports for the week ending June 11 totaled 2.807 million metric tons inspected and/or weighed for export, up from 2.760 million the prior week and 2.340 million in the same week of 2025.
Weaker results came in coal, seasonally down 8.3%, and motor vehicles and parts, which slipped 0.5%.
Cumulative and North American data
Through the first 23 weeks of 2026, cumulative U.S. volume stood at 5,215,944 carloads, up 3.2%, and 6,403,177 intermodal units, up 2.7%, for a combined total of 11,619,121 carloads and intermodal units, a 2.9% increase from 2025.
On a North American basis, nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads handled 337,700 carloads (up 1.7% YoY) and 379,536 intermodal units (up 9.3% YoY) for the week, with combined traffic improving 5.6% to 717,236 units. Year-to-date North American volume reached 15,993,851 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.5%.
| Railroad | Weekly Carloads | YoY % Change | Weekly Intermodal | YoY % Change | YTD Combined | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | 230,959 | +2.8% | 289,447 | +10.9% | 11,619,121 | +2.9% |
| Canada | 93,827 | +2.8% | 75,465 | +1.1% | 3,788,314 | +0.6% |
| Mexico | 12,914 | -20.3% | 14,624 | +27.3% | 586,416 | +8.2% |
Implications for shippers and operators
The sustained rise in intermodal volumes signals a modal shift that freight forwarders and logistics managers should factor into capacity planning. With truck rates firming and rail offering a lower-cost alternative, shippers moving domestic freight may secure better rates by locking in intermodal contracts now. The early peak season also means international containers arriving at U.S. ports are moving inland via rail at a faster pace, potentially reducing dwell times but also straining intermodal chassis and ramp capacity. Operators should monitor rail service metrics and consider diversifying routings to avoid congestion at key hubs such as Chicago and Los Angeles.
Watch list
- Peak season intensity: If import volumes continue to surge, intermodal networks may face capacity constraints similar to previous years.
- Truck rate trajectory: Any further increase in truck rates could accelerate the shift to rail.
- Grain exports: Strong grain volumes will continue to support rail carload demand.
- Mexican rail recovery: After a sharp weekly drop in carloads, Mexican intermodal growth of 27.3% bears watching for cross-border trade implications.
Sources:
