US Rail Freight and Intermodal Volumes Increase Despite Economic Challenges

US Rail Freight and Intermodal Volumes Increase Despite Economic Challenges

According to the Association of American Railroads, U.S. rail freight and intermodal volume increased year-over-year for the week ending March 20, but growth slowed. Freight volume performance varied across commodities, while intermodal was constrained by port congestion. Cumulative data presents a mixed picture, and the full-year trend remains to be seen. The rail transport industry faces challenges such as aging infrastructure and labor shortages, but also opportunities from economic recovery and environmental policies. Overall performance needs further observation.

01/19/2026 Logistics
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US Rail Freight Struggles As Auto Shipments Offset Coal Decline

US Rail Freight Struggles As Auto Shipments Offset Coal Decline

According to the Association of American Railroads, U.S. rail freight and intermodal volumes declined year-over-year in the first week of February. However, automobile and parts transportation saw an increase, while coal shipments experienced a significant drop. Year-to-date freight volume showed a slight increase, but intermodal remained weak. North America mirrored the U.S. trend, with a small rise in overall freight volume but a decrease in intermodal transportation. The divergence highlights shifting dynamics within the freight transportation sector.

01/28/2026 Logistics
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US Rail Freight Sees Modest Recovery in Late September

US Rail Freight Sees Modest Recovery in Late September

According to the Association of American Railroads, U.S. rail carload and intermodal traffic both experienced year-over-year growth in late September. Carload traffic increased by 0.9%, with notable gains in nonmetallic minerals, grain, and motor vehicles & parts, while coal, petroleum, and metals declined. Intermodal volume rose by 1.1%. Year-to-date figures show a 2.1% increase in total carload traffic and a 3.5% increase in total intermodal volume. The rail freight market faces both challenges and opportunities, requiring proactive adaptation.

01/29/2026 Logistics
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US Ports Face Strike Threat As Imports Surge

US Ports Face Strike Threat As Imports Surge

A potential strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports threatens to cause a surge in U.S. import volume in August. Retailers are proactively mitigating risks by accelerating shipments and diverting cargo to alternative ports. Reports predict significant import volume growth for the full year 2024. However, risks such as supply chain disruptions and inventory shortages remain. Retailers should closely monitor the situation and take proactive measures to minimize potential losses. Early preparation and diversification are key strategies to navigate the uncertainty.

01/30/2026 Logistics
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Pinduoduo Focuses on Organic Growth Postsales Surge

Pinduoduo Focuses on Organic Growth Postsales Surge

This article shares how to use Pinduoduo's Express Train (PPC) to precisely drive traffic and quickly increase organic traffic after order boosting. The core strategies include: creating a new custom plan, selecting long-tail keywords, controlling initial bids, enabling precise audience targeting, and monitoring data daily to adjust strategies promptly. This helps you break free from the dilemma of relying solely on order boosting and achieve explosive traffic growth on Pinduoduo.

02/11/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Robotics Transform Ecommerce Fulfillment for 6 River Systems Project Verte

Robotics Transform Ecommerce Fulfillment for 6 River Systems Project Verte

6 River Systems partnered with Project Verte to deploy Chuck robots in Atlanta, aiming to enhance e-commerce fulfillment efficiency and increase order processing capabilities. This deployment leverages robotics to streamline warehouse operations and improve overall fulfillment performance, ultimately leading to faster and more accurate order delivery for customers. The collaboration highlights the growing trend of utilizing automation solutions to address the increasing demands of the e-commerce industry.

02/04/2026 Logistics
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6 River Systems Automates Vertes Atlanta Ecommerce Hub

6 River Systems Automates Vertes Atlanta Ecommerce Hub

6 River Systems is partnering with Project Verte to enhance fulfillment efficiency at Project Verte's Atlanta distribution center through automation technology. This collaboration aims to improve order processing capabilities, picking efficiency, and reduce operational costs, accelerating the warehouse automation process in the e-commerce industry. The partnership ultimately strives to provide consumers with a better shopping experience by streamlining the fulfillment process and ensuring faster, more accurate order delivery.

02/04/2026 Logistics
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US Tariffs Cut China Exports Hit Shipping Sector

US Tariffs Cut China Exports Hit Shipping Sector

Increased US tariffs on Chinese goods have led to a sharp decline in export bookings from China to the US, forcing shipping companies to cancel sailings. Despite tariff exemptions granted by the US government, a significant volume of transpacific container imports remains affected. Shipping lines like Hede, Matson, SeaLead, TS Lines, and COSCO are facing increased pressure as the industry navigates transformative challenges. The reduction in trade volume is directly impacting their operations and profitability, forcing them to adapt to the new economic landscape.

11/03/2025 Logistics Industry Insights
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US Rail Freight Sees Mixed Trends Carloads Rise Containers Fall

US Rail Freight Sees Mixed Trends Carloads Rise Containers Fall

Data from the Association of American Railroads shows a divergence in US rail freight volume in late January. Carload traffic increased by 3.3% year-over-year, driven by nonmetallic minerals, coal, and automotive industries. However, container transport decreased by 6.7% year-over-year, potentially due to shifts in consumer spending and supply chain adjustments. Overall freight volume in North America exhibited a similar trend. The increase in carload was enough to offset the container decrease, showing resilience in certain sectors of the rail freight market.

01/28/2026 Logistics
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Guide to Costeffective Crossborder Shipping for Large Items

Guide to Costeffective Crossborder Shipping for Large Items

Cross-border transportation of oversized cargo involves various options like sea freight, air freight, and express delivery, each with its pros and cons. Sea freight is suitable for low-cost, large-volume, non-urgent goods. Air freight is ideal for high-value, time-sensitive oversized items, but size and weight restrictions apply. Express delivery is only cost-effective for small-volume, urgent oversized shipments. The optimal choice depends on the cargo's characteristics, time requirements, and budget, requiring careful consideration to find the most suitable solution.

01/29/2026 Logistics
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