Rail Freight Trends in 2025

Rail freight volumes across North America have seen meaningful growth in 2025, intermodal traffic is up 5% year-to-date compared to 2024.

Intermodal transportation, which enables seamless cargo movement across multiple modes without handling the freight itself, continues to play a crucial role in supply chain performance. Increased demand for consumer goods, manufacturing inputs, and e-commerce fulfillment has contributed to this steady rise, especially in regions connected to major ports and industrial hubs.

Performance varies across different parts of the continent, with some rail networks seeing significant gains due to enhanced infrastructure and growing demand, while others focus on network adjustments and service optimization to remain competitive.

At Traffic Tech, these trends reinforce the importance of agile, multimodal logistics strategies for our clients.

With over 1,000 drayage carrier partners and direct contact with all Class 1 Railways as well as Asset Partners, we’re proud to be a trusted leader in rail-integrated logistics. Our scale, experience, and tailored approach ensure our clients benefit from optimized routes, faster transit times, and unmatched reliability—no matter the market conditions.

Data source: Association of American Railroads, reported via FreightWaves.