# Rail Grain Carloads Beat 3-Year Average | Feed & Grain

> USDA data for the week ending August 15 showed 26,543 grain rail carloads, 16% above the three-year average. Barge movements fell 26% week over week to 475,450 tons, and diesel prices rose to $5.652 per gallon. Ocean vessel loadings were 8% lower year over year.

- Date: 2026-08-27 · published 2026-08-27T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/18090-rail-grain-carloads-beat-3-year-average-feed-and-grain
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [ULSD / Diesel](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DIESEL.md), [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md)

## Why it matters

Weaker barge traffic and fewer ocean loadings signal slower export logistics, which can widen basis and weigh on barge rates. Diesel at record levels raises haulage costs across rail and truck networks.

## Read by commodity

- BARGE: bearish ▼
- DIESEL: bullish ▲
- OCEANFRT: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DIESEL | 2026-10-15 | [Grain Shipping Rates Surge 34% Year-Over-Year \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16757-grain-shipping-rates-surge-34-year-over-year-feed-and-grain.md) | +1.1% | — |
| DIESEL | 2022-03-17 | [U.S. Grain Barge Freight Rates Skyrocket \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/42461-u-s-grain-barge-freight-rates-skyrocket-feed-and-grain.md) | +32.3% | +20.2% |
| DIESEL | 2026-09-10 | [Soybean Shipping Costs Rise for US Exporters \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17636-soybean-shipping-costs-rise-for-us-exporters-feed-and-grain.md) | +6.9% | -7.4% |
| DIESEL | 2026-10-22 | [Record diesel costs push grain freight rates higher across all modes \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17227-record-diesel-costs-push-grain-freight-rates-higher-across-all-modes-feed-and.md) | -5.5% | — |
| DIESEL | 2026-05-08 | [Grain transportation demand strong despite fuel costs \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16365-grain-transportation-demand-strong-despite-fuel-costs-feed-and-grain.md) | +2.2% | -7.2% |

## Sources

- feedandgrain.com: https://www.feedandgrain.com/business-markets/commodities/news/15833581/rail-grain-carloads-beat-3year-average

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.