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U.S. railroads produced the same traffic results in August's second full week as they did in the first: a downturn. During the week ending Aug. 16, they originated 335,245 carloads, down 0.8 percent, and 237,034 intermodal loads, down 0.5 percent compared with totals from the same week in 2007, according to the Association of American Railroads.

However, total volume for the week reached an estimated 35.2 billion ton-miles, up 0.6 percent.

Through 2008's first 33 weeks, U.S. railroads originated 10.7 million carloads, up 0.3 percent, and 7.3 million containers and trailers, down 2.9 percent vs. totals from the same 2007 period. Total estimated volume of 1.11 trillion ton-miles rose 1.5 percent.

Canadian railroads had another up-and-down week. In the period ending Aug. 16, they registered a 4.1 percent decline in originated carloads at 75,585 units and 2.6 percent gain in intermodal loads at 51,438 units compared with levels from the same week last year. Through 33 weeks, Canadian railroads' carloads decreased 4.2 percent to 2.4 million units, but intermodal volume increased 4.1 percent to 1.6 million units vs. last year's totals.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 33 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads originated 13.2 million carloads, down 0.5 percent, and 8.9 million containers and trailers, down 1.8 percent year over year.