Weekly AAR Data: Late-August Carload and Intermodal Gains

United States rail freight volumes extended their 2026 gains in the final full week of August, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). For the week ended August 29, rail carloads reached 240,021, a 2.2% increase over the same week a year earlier. Intermodal containers and trailers rose even faster, climbing 5.7% to 303,191 units.

Both figures also strengthened compared with the preceding two reporting weeks. Carloads had been 233,261 for the week ended August 15 and 235,885 for August 22, while intermodal units were 291,838 and 296,577 in those same weeks. That marks three consecutive weekly increases for both series in the reported data.

The carload gain was broad but not universal. Seven of the ten commodity groups tracked by the AAR improved year over year, led by metallic ores and metals, grain, and nonmetallic minerals. Offsetting those advances were declines in chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, and miscellaneous carloads. Through the first 34 weeks of 2026, US rail carloads are up 2.7% annually, and intermodal units are up 3.9%.

Why Intermodal Strength and Auto-Chemical Weakness Matter

Metals, Grain and Minerals Carry the Carload Advance

The largest absolute gain came from metallic ores and metals, which added 2,449 carloads to reach 24,801. Grain added 1,644 carloads to 21,359, and nonmetallic minerals added 1,219 to 33,812. That pattern points to demand tied to industrial raw materials and agricultural shipments, though the AAR data do not identify specific end markets. The breadth of seven advancing commodity groups supports the view that the weekly carload increase is not reliant on a single commodity story.

Chemicals and Motor Vehicles Are the Visible Weak Spots

Not every rail-intensive sector shared the gain. Chemical carloads fell by 1,322 to 33,640, and motor vehicles and parts fell by 1,049 to 16,443. These are significant groups for rail volume and are closely watched as industrial indicators. Their declines suggest that late-August freight strength was uneven and that weakness in select manufacturing or input-demand segments is sitting alongside broader growth. A single week, however, can include scheduling and seasonal noise.

Intermodal Is Growing Faster Than Carloads

The intermodal result is the stronger signal in the report. At 303,191 units, intermodal traffic was up 5.7% annually and has now risen from 291,838 to 296,577 to 303,191 over three reported weeks. Because intermodal moves containers and trailers that are often tied to imported goods and retail supply chains, this pace implies firmer containerized freight demand than the bulk and industrial carload side. Nevertheless, weekly intermodal numbers can be influenced by port flows, rail network performance and calendar effects.

What the Week's Rail Data Means for Shippers and Planners

  • For chemical and automotive supply chain teams: Do not read the aggregate rail gain as a uniform demand signal. Chemical carloads were down 1,322 and motor vehicles and parts were down 1,049 in the week ended August 29, so your commodity lane may face softer rail activity than the headline numbers suggest.
  • For intermodal shippers: Three consecutive weekly increases—291,838, 296,577 and 303,191 units—point to firm containerized demand. If that pace holds into September, expect tighter space and less pricing flexibility during peak shipping season.
  • For rail and logistics planners: The year-to-date figures—carloads up 2.7% and intermodal up 3.9%—support a 2026 volume recovery, but the chemical and auto declines argue for commodity-level planning rather than reliance on total rail growth.