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The year's 20th week wasn't a particularly good one for U.S. railroads. During the period ending May 17, their carloads declined 0.1 percent to 331,199 units and intermodal volume decreased 1.1 percent to 233,824 units compared with totals from the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Through the year's first 20 weeks, U.S. railroads originated 6.5 million carloads, up 1.2 percent, and 4.4 million containers and trailers, down 3.3 percent year over year. Total volume reached an estimated 673.4 billion ton-miles, representing a 2.5 percent increase compared with last year's level.

Meanwhile, Canadian railroads for the week ending May 17 reported 74,308 carloads, down 7.8 percent, and 48,638 intermodal loads, up 6.2 percent compared with totals from the same week in 2007. Through 20 weeks, their carloads totaling 1.5 million units declined 3.9 percent but intermodal volume totaling 938,581 units rose 4.4 percent year over year.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 20 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads originated 8 million carloads, up 0.2 percent, and 5.3 million containers and trailers, down 2.1 percent compared with totals from the same 2007 period.