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During the week ending July 26, U.S. railroads originated 333,187 carloads, down 0.9 percent compared with volume from the same week last year — the first time in July the roads posted a weekly carload decline.

Their intermodal volume dropped, too, falling 3.2 percent to 235,397 units, according to Association of American Railroads data.

During 2008's first 30 weeks, U.S. railroads originated 9.7 million carloads, up 0.4 percent, and 6.7 million containers and trailers, down 3.1 percent compared with totals from the same 2007 period. Total volume reached an estimated 1 trillion ton-miles, representing a 1.6 percent gain.

Canadian railroads had a better week, at least on the intermodal side of the traffic equation. During the week ending July 26, their carloads totaling 71,444 units dropped 9.8 percent but intermodal volume totaling 50,570 units rose 4.9 percent compared with totals from the same week last year.

Through 30 weeks, Canadian railroads originated 2.2 million carloads, down 4.2 percent, and 1.4 million intermodal loads, up 4.2 percent year over year.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 30 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads originated 12 million carloads and 8 million intermodal loads, representing a 0.5 percent drop and 1.9 percent decrease, respectively, vs. totals from 2007's first 30 weeks.