Intermodal growth continues. Truck capacity is tight — but not everywhere for the same reason.
AAR reported 299,001 U.S. intermodal units for the week ending October 3, up 7.4% year over year. DAT’s October 6 report showed dry-van spot linehaul rising to $2.25 per mile excluding fuel. The biggest planning distinction is regional: persistent Midwest van pressure versus a largely seasonal Northwest reefer surge.
Published by LaserNet Jax · October 12, 2026 · Latest available data: AAR Oct. 7, DAT Oct. 6, FreightWaves Oct. 9–10, railroad advisories
Week Ending Oct. 3
Oct. 9
Excluding Fuel
The case for modal flexibility is strengthening, but regional detail matters.
AAR’s October 7 release reported 299,001 U.S. intermodal units for the week ending October 3, up 7.4% year over year. Through 39 weeks, U.S. intermodal units totaled 11,077,697, up 4.2%. North American intermodal volume grew 6.9% in the same week. AAR source
Truckload pressure remains elevated: FreightWaves placed national tender rejections at 13.75% on October 9, while DAT reported national dry-van spot linehaul at $2.25/mile excluding fuel, up 33.5% year over year in its October 6 release. The latest DAT figure reflects the prior week’s quarter-end freight activity and is not a current lane quote. FreightWaves source · DAT source
One national capacity number hides two very different markets: persistent Midwest dry-van tightness and a Northwest spike driven largely by seasonal refrigerated freight.
U.S. and North American intermodal volumes continue to run ahead of 2025.
Canadian railroads reported 73,192 intermodal units, up 0.7% for the week, while Mexican railroads reported 14,179 units, up 36.7%. These figures measure activity, not a promise of rail capacity or service on any specific lane. Source: AAR, October 7
For network planning, Norfolk Southern reported continuing work to expand its Columbus-area Rickenbacker facility, with modeled annual capacity targeted near 410,000 lifts after remaining phases are completed. This is a capacity investment, not a claim that a new lane or additional slots are immediately available. Source: Norfolk Southern, October 1
Midwest dry van and Northwest reefer are different capacity stories.
FreightWaves’ October 10 analysis found Midwest van rejections near 15%, part of a persistent regional capacity problem. The Northwest’s higher headline rejection rate is primarily harvest-related reefer tightness; Northwest van rejections were below 5%. Brokers should not treat those markets as interchangeable dry-van opportunities. Source: FreightWaves, October 10
DAT’s October 6 dry-van report recorded $2.25/mile national spot linehaul excluding fuel (+33.5% YoY). Origin-region averages were Great Lakes $2.59, Ohio River $2.54, Upper Atlantic $2.28, and Southeast $2.12, all excluding fuel. Load posts rose 17.5% in the reported week while equipment posts slipped 2.4%. Source: DAT, October 6
Separately, FreightWaves’ October 9 SONAR update put contract truckload rates at a 52-week high of $2.72/mile plus fuel (+18% YoY). This is a different measure from DAT’s spot linehaul series and should not be compared as though they use identical methodologies. Source: FreightWaves, October 9
Verify fuel, Atlanta ramp assignments and Gulf Coast service before quoting.
Union Pacific fuel: Domestic weekly intermodal fuel surcharge is 58.0% for October 12–18, down from 60.0% for October 5–11. This is the published weekly domestic program, not a universal fuel factor for all intermodal contracts. UP October 6 notice
CN fuel: CN publishes multiple intermodal fuel programs, including weekly CN 7404 and monthly CN 7405. The October 12 CN 7404 rate was not confirmed in the source reviewed; use the currently posted tariff applicable to the shipment rather than carrying forward the October 5 percentage. CN published tables
Atlanta: Norfolk Southern’s Inman/Austell routing changes took effect October 5. UP via Shreveport and CPKC via Meridian interchange lanes use Inman; domestic Atlanta traffic involving Rutherford, Croxton and Morrisville uses Austell. Confirm origin-specific ramps, waybilling and availability. NS advisory
Gulf Coast service: A CSX advisory dated October 7 flagged potential weather-related operating changes and New Orleans gateway interchange impacts. That advisory is a watch item, not confirmation of an active closure on October 12; check the railroad’s latest service bulletins and local dray conditions before promising a schedule. CSX advisory
Cross-border documentation: UP advised that CBP electronic export information requirements for loaded rail exports to Canada or Mexico take effect October 26. Exporters and their brokers should review filing responsibilities ahead of the deadline. UP customer notice
Practical candidates for a routing review.
| Lane group | Market read | Intermodal position |
|---|---|---|
Great Lakes / Midwest → West Repeat dry van, long mileage | Priority screening Midwest van rejections near 15%; Great Lakes truck origin linehaul elevated. Confirm rail route, equipment, dray and service. | Strong Review |
Midwest → Southeast Repeat consumer / manufactured freight | Review with transit tolerance Check Atlanta terminal assignments under the October 5 NS changes before proposing a rail plan. | Review |
U.S. ↔ Canada Cross-border domestic intermodal | Evaluate total economics Use current CN tariff-specific fuel and verify customs, border routing, equipment and dray. | Evaluate |
Northwest harvest / urgent reefer Seasonal temperature-controlled freight | Do not overgeneralize Regional tightness is reefer-driven; this is not evidence of broad dry-van intermodal conversion potential. | Specialized |
Three developments to keep on the radar.
Midwest truck coverage through October.
Midwest van rejections are near 15% despite a national reading below 14%. Review repeat long-haul freight before spot coverage becomes urgent.
Terminal execution and weather-sensitive gateways.
Monitor Atlanta Inman/Austell routing under the October 5 changes and verify the latest CSX/Gulf Coast service advisories before promising transit.
Cross-border filing and current fuel.
UP’s weekly domestic intermodal fuel is 58.0% for October 12–18. Use tariff-specific CN factors and prepare for the October 26 loaded-rail export information deadline.
Published figures, with dates and context.
AAR weekly rail traffic · Oct. 7; DAT dry-van report · Oct. 6; FreightWaves regional rejection analysis · Oct. 10; FreightWaves SONAR update · Oct. 9; Union Pacific weekly fuel · Oct. 6; CN published fuel tables; Norfolk Southern Atlanta changes · Sept. 25; Norfolk Southern Rickenbacker expansion · Oct. 1; CSX Gulf Coast weather advisory · Oct. 7; Union Pacific export-reporting notice · Sept. 10.
Data reflects the latest verifiable releases available Monday, October 12. AAR is weekly traffic, DAT is a prior-week spot linehaul sample excluding fuel, SONAR tender rejections are dated daily market readings, and fuel factors are tariff/program-specific. This report does not imply rail space, transit or a quoted savings amount on any particular lane.
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The Weekly Rail Report is published every Monday by LaserNet Jax — a direct Intermodal Marketing Company based in Jacksonville, FL. We hold railroad contracts with CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, CN and CPKC, plus access to the full North American rail network. Data sourced from the Association of American Railroads (AAR), DAT Freight & Analytics, and industry market reports. All figures are for informational purposes; lane-specific rates vary and should be confirmed directly.