North American rail volume on nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads came in at 11,043,603 carloads and intermodal units for the 16-week period ending April 25, 2026, the AAR reported April 29. Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 8,016,798 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 1.7% from the same point last year; in Canada, 2,599,364 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.4%; and in Mexico, 427,441 carloads and intermodal units, up 16.6%. Results were similar through the first 15 weeks of this year (ending April 18, 2026). For the week ending April 29, 2026, U.S. Class I railroads hauled 511,616 carloads and intermodal units, a 1.9% increase from the same week last year, according to the AAR. That comprised 229,828 carloads, down 1.5% compared with the same week in 2025, and 281,788 containers and trailers, up 4.9% compared with 2025. Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase for the week ending April 29, 2026, compared with the same week last year. They included motor vehicles and parts, up 1,050 carloads, to 16,675; metallic ores and metals, up 935 carloads, to 21,223; and farm products excluding grain, and food, up 854 carloads, to 17,649. Commodity groups that posted declines included coal, down 4,642 carloads, to 55,082; chemicals, down 1,080 carloads, to 34,093; and miscellaneous carloads, down 916 carloads, to 8,900. For the first 16 weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,602,594 carloads, rising 3.5% from the same point last year; and 4,414,204 intermodal units, a 0.2% increase…
