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Freight & Logistics

US Rail Traffic Up 4.1% in Late August as Intermodal Outruns Carloads; Van Spot +32% YoY

Source: Association of American Railroads / DAT · 2026-09-12
Summary

AAR reported total US rail traffic of 543,212 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending August 29, up 4.1% year over year, with intermodal volume of 303,191 containers/trailers rising 5.7% versus just 2.2% for carloads. DAT's September 1 update put dry-van spot linehaul at about $2.19 per mile excluding fuel, 32.4% above a year earlier and 21% over the nine-year seasonal norm. Tightening truck capacity is steering long-haul freight toward rail-intermodal alternatives as peak season builds.

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