U.S. rail traffic continued its late-spring rally for the week ending May 30, and a tightening trucking market is a major reason why. Total traffic on U.S. railroads increased 7.2% from a year ago to 492,795 carloads and intermodal units, the Association of American Railroads reported, with intermodal volume of 264,449 containers and trailers up 10% year over year.
FreightWaves reported June 4 that intermodal has benefited from shifts by shippers challenged by a soaring trucking market, where tender rejections, rates and fuel costs are reaching weekly highs. The environment for motor carriers has improved amid a capacity squeeze driven in part by multi-pronged federal enforcement that has removed drivers who fail English proficiency requirements, shuttered questionable trucking schools and sidelined so-called chameleon carriers that reemerge under new identities after accidents.
Commodity shipments improved 4% to 228,346 carloads, with seven of 10 carload commodity groups posting annual gains. Grain led the way, up 33.8%, followed by metallic ores and metals at 19.5% and motor vehicles and parts at 9.1%. Coal led decliners, down 9%, along with petroleum and petroleum products, off 3.4%.
Through the first 21 weeks of the year, cumulative U.S. rail volume of 4,756,909 carloads was 3.4% ahead of 2025, while intermodal units improved 1.8%. For trucking fleets, the data underscores how quickly pricing leverage has shifted toward carriers as capacity exits the market and shippers seek alternatives.
Source: FreightWaves -- https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-is-driving-double-digit-growth-for-this-rail-freight-category