US Rail Freight Declines in May As Coal Petroleum Demand Wanes

US Rail Freight Declines in May As Coal Petroleum Demand Wanes

Data from the Association of American Railroads shows a decline in both U.S. rail carloads and intermodal units for the week ending May 21. Significant decreases were observed in coal and petroleum products shipments, while miscellaneous carloads, nonmetallic minerals, and motor vehicles & parts saw increases. The article analyzes the multiple factors contributing to the freight volume decline, including economic slowdown and shifting consumer demand. It suggests strategies such as diversifying business operations, improving service quality, and embracing technological innovation to address the challenges and maintain competitiveness in the rail freight industry.

02/11/2026 Logistics
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Cass Freight Index Rises Despite Economic Uncertainty

Cass Freight Index Rises Despite Economic Uncertainty

The July Cass Freight Index report shows continued year-over-year growth in both freight volume and expenditures, but a month-over-month decline. The report highlights key information such as e-commerce driving freight volume growth, rising fuel prices impacting freight expenditures, and a slowdown in rail transport. Logistics companies need to pay attention to market changes, embrace digital transformation, expand diversified services, strengthen risk management, and focus on sustainable development. The MoM decline warrants careful observation in the coming months to determine if it signals a broader economic shift.

02/11/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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US Truckload Spot Market Slumps As Demand Rates Drop

US Truckload Spot Market Slumps As Demand Rates Drop

The US freight spot market experienced a decline in both volume and rates in late May, reflecting weak demand, excess capacity, and broader economic factors. The dry van, refrigerated, and flatbed markets all faced pressure. Experts describe the market as 'frozen' but suggest that potential opportunities remain. Carriers are advised to optimize operations, shippers to adjust plans flexibly, and industry analysts to enhance research in order to collectively address these challenges. The decline signals a need for strategic adaptation within the freight industry to navigate the current market conditions.

01/19/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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US Rail Freight Sees Mixed Results During Thanksgiving

US Rail Freight Sees Mixed Results During Thanksgiving

According to the Association of American Railroads, U.S. rail carload traffic decreased year-over-year during Thanksgiving week, while intermodal traffic increased. Year-to-date, carload traffic shows a slight increase, while intermodal traffic has declined. Railroad companies need to strengthen infrastructure construction and promote technological innovation to meet challenges and seize opportunities. This involves improving efficiency, reliability, and capacity to better serve shippers and adapt to evolving market demands in both carload and intermodal segments.

02/11/2026 Logistics
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US Rail Freight Sees Carload Rise Intermodal Dip in Late January

US Rail Freight Sees Carload Rise Intermodal Dip in Late January

According to the Association of American Railroads, U.S. rail freight traffic presented a mixed picture in late January. Carload traffic increased year-over-year, driven by nonmetallic minerals and coal. However, intermodal traffic declined, potentially indicating weak consumer demand. Year-to-date, carload traffic has seen cumulative growth, while intermodal volume has decreased, suggesting downward pressure on the overall North American rail transport market. Key factors to watch include inflation, interest rates, geopolitical events, and the energy transition.

02/11/2026 Logistics
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US Rail Freight Sees Intermodal Growth Amid Carload Declines

US Rail Freight Sees Intermodal Growth Amid Carload Declines

According to the Association of American Railroads, U.S. rail carload traffic decreased by 2.0% for the week ending October 14th, while intermodal traffic increased by 2.8% year-over-year. For the first 41 weeks of 2023, carload traffic cumulatively increased by 0.3%, while intermodal traffic decreased by 7.7% year-over-year. The rail freight market presents both opportunities and challenges. Interconnectivity and seamless transitions between modes are crucial for future growth in this dynamic logistics landscape.

02/11/2026 Logistics
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US Rail Freight Volumes Drop Amid Economic Slowdown

US Rail Freight Volumes Drop Amid Economic Slowdown

According to the Association of American Railroads, U.S. rail freight and intermodal traffic decreased year-over-year for the week ending August 19th. While carload and coal traffic increased, grain and forest products declined. Year-to-date, total carload traffic saw a slight increase, but intermodal traffic significantly decreased. Factors contributing to this include a global economic slowdown, industry challenges, and internal railroad issues. The recovery of rail freight volume faces considerable challenges in the future.

02/11/2026 Logistics
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US Rail Freight Rises Slightly on Intermodal Demand

US Rail Freight Rises Slightly on Intermodal Demand

According to the Association of American Railroads, U.S. rail freight traffic experienced a slight increase in late September. Carload traffic rose by 0.9% year-over-year, while intermodal traffic increased by 1.1%. Performance varied across commodity categories, with gains in nonmetallic minerals, grain, and motor vehicle parts. Coal, petroleum, and metallic ores saw declines. Year-to-date figures show growth in both carload and intermodal traffic. However, the market continues to face challenges including energy transition and technological innovation.

02/04/2026 Logistics
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US Rail Freight Carload Rises As Intermodal Declines

US Rail Freight Carload Rises As Intermodal Declines

According to the Association of American Railroads, U.S. rail freight traffic showed divergence in the week ending August 14. Carload traffic increased by 5.7% year-over-year, driven by demand for commodities like coal and metallic ores. Intermodal traffic decreased by 3% year-over-year, constrained by port congestion and other factors. Year-to-date figures show carload and intermodal traffic up 9% and 14.6% respectively. Railroad companies need to adopt differentiated strategies to address the changing market dynamics.

01/19/2026 Logistics
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Kols Boost SEO for Ecommerce Stores

Kols Boost SEO for Ecommerce Stores

This article explores how to combine KOL marketing with SEO to boost organic traffic for independent websites. By focusing on keyword research, on-page SEO optimization, blog outreach and link building, and traffic ranking analysis, the influence of KOLs can be transformed into long-term traffic growth. This approach aims to create a sustainable engine for organic traffic, leveraging KOL marketing to drive lasting SEO benefits and establish a consistent stream of targeted visitors to the website.

01/27/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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