Intermodal and Carload Visitors Elevated

by Calculated Danger on 8/08/2025 04:06:00 PM

From the Affiliation of American Railroads (AAR) AAR Information Heart. Graph and excerpts reprinted with permission.

Rail volumes are holding up, indicating
items motion stays resilient regardless of the
headwinds. Trying forward, although, sustained
strain on labor markets and shopper demand
may ultimately weigh on freight exercise.
emphasis added

U.S. rail intermodal shipments rebounded in July,
rising 2.4% over final yr and reversing a 2.9%
decline in June (intermodal’s first year-over-year
decline in 22 months). In July 2025, intermodal
originations averaged 270,175 models per week, the
second most ever for July (behind July 2018).

In the meantime, U.S. complete carloads rose 4.6% in July 2025
over July 2024, their fifth straight improve. In July, 15 of the 20 carload classes tracked by the AAR noticed
beneficial properties, essentially the most since December 2023. Whole carloads averaged 224,568 per week in July 2025, essentially the most for
July since 2019. In 2025 by July, complete carloads have been up 2.8%, or almost 186,000 carloads, over final yr.