Rail Pulse is Steel Wheel Logistics' weekly read on what actually moved on the U.S. rail network last week. Every figure is sourced from public AAR, STB, EIA, and USDA filings and linked at the bottom. Every word of analysis is anchored to those numbers — no estimates, no extrapolation.
The Number
Total rail traffic for the week ending October 3, 2026 reached 529712 carloads and intermodal units combined, up 5.1% year-over-year, as carloads alone grew 2.4% to 230711 units.
Network Health
BNSF is green at 25.0 mph system speed with 22.8 hours dwell. UP is green at 24.4 mph with 20.0 hours dwell. CSX is yellow at 24.447048968517883 mph with 20.32 hours dwell. NS is red at 20.9 mph with 24.4 hours dwell. CPKC is yellow at 21.7 mph with 20.45 hours dwell. CN dwell stands at 18.2 hours, green, though speed data is unavailable.
Color codes: green = speed ≥24 mph or dwell <22 hrs; yellow = speed 21–24 mph or dwell 22–26 hrs; red = speed <21 mph or dwell >26 hrs. Source: STB EP724 weekly Class I performance filings.
Fuel Watch
Heating diesel fuel averaged 6.199 per gallon for the week ending October 5, down 2.87% week-over-week from 6.382. The 12-week uptrend from July's 5.134 reflects seasonal demand; next-month FSC previews show BNSF holding at 76 cents per mile and UP at 84 cents per mile through November 1.
Want to see how a fuel-surcharge change hits a specific lane? Run a free rail rate quote — FSC is broken out per leg.
Commodity Spotlight
Metallic Ores and Metals led weekly moves with a 12.8% year-over-year increase to 23387 carloads for the week ending October 3, followed by Petroleum and Petroleum Products at 12.2% YoY to 11804 units. Grain reversed to a 5.2% decline week-over-week, falling to 21170 carloads despite an 11.3% YoY gain year-to-date.
Lane Watch
Memphis, TN to Los Angeles, CA for 100 tons of paper in a boxcar calculates to a tariff total of 14549.08 over 1924.0 miles. The route spans five carriers including UP, NETC, FWWR, DGNO, and BLR. Run an indicative estimate at steelwheellogistics.com/tools/rail-rate-quote.
Pricing a specific carload move? Run an indicative estimate through the live rail rate calculator. Already have cars on the ground? The demurrage calculator uses current Class I rate structures, and the transload directory lists rail-served terminals nationwide.
Sources
- AAR Weekly Rail Traffic Report
- STB Class I Weekly Performance Data (49 CFR 1250)
- EIA U.S. Weekly Retail On-Highway Diesel Average
- USDA AMS Grain Transportation Report
Rail Pulse is published every Tuesday morning, after the AAR Weekly Rail Traffic Report releases. We pull, validate, and compose — no figures are introduced beyond what these sources publish.