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So far, the fall peak isn't turning out to be the traffic generator it’s been in years past for U.S. railroads. During the week ending Oct. 20, on U.S. roads originated 332,461 carloads, down 2.1 percent, and 242,558 containers and trailers, down 4.3 percent compared with totals from the same week in 2006, according to the Association of American Railroads.

Through the year's first 42 weeks, U.S. railroads' originated carloads decreased 3.1 percent to 13.7 million units and intermodal volume declined 2.1 percent to 9.8 million units compared with totals from the same 2006 period. Total volume estimated of 1.4 trillion ton-miles dropped 1.6 percent.

Canadian railroads continued to register carload gains. During the week ending Oct. 20 carload, their originated carloads totaled 81,974 units, up 5.3 percent compared with carloads from the same week last year. In addition, intermodal volume totaling 52,027 containers and trailers rose 5.8 percent.

Through 42 weeks, Canadian railroads originated 3.3 million carloads, down 0.7 percent, and 2 million containers and trailers, up 2.9 percent year over year.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 42 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads originated 17 million carloads, down 2.6 percent, and 11.7 million containers and trailers, down 1.3 percent compared with totals from the same 2006 period.