United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending July 18, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Rail carloads, at 226,883, fell 1.2% annually, topping the weeks ending July 11 and July 4, at 223,040, and 212,691, respectively. Commodity groups posting annual declines were: coal, down 5,894 carloads, to 56,261; motor vehicles and parts, down 928 carloads, to 12,581; and petroleum and petroleum products, down 224 carloads, to 10,924. Intermodal containers and trailers, at 297,017, increased 7.2% annually, topping the weeks ending July 11 and July 4, at 280,485, and 269,340, respectively. Through the first 28 weeks of 2026, AAR reported that U.S. rail carloads, at 6,334,225, were up 2.9% annually, and intermodal units, at 7,831,914, are up 3.8% annually, for the same period.