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Nearly eight months into 2007, U.S. railroads are still waiting for a traffic turnaround. During the year’s 34th week ending Aug. 25, the roads originated 336,746 carloads, down 1.4 percent, and 237,928 intermodal loads, down 6.3 percent compared with traffic from 2006’s 34th week, according to the Association of American Railroads.

Through 34 weeks, U.S. railroads’ carloads declined 3.6 percent to 11 million units and intermodal volume decreased 1.8 percent to 7.8 million units compared with data from the same period last year. Estimated volume totaled 1.13 trillion ton-miles, representing a 2.3 percent drop year over year.

Canadian railroads continue to originate fewer carloads, too. During the week ending Aug. 25, their carloads tumbled 4.6 percent year over year to 76,626 units. However, the roads’ intermodal traffic totaling 49,737 trailers and containers rose 4.2 percent.

For the 34-week period, Canadian railroads reported 2.6 million carloads, down 0.8 percent, and 1.6 million trailers and containers, up 2.6 percent compared with 2006 levels through 34 weeks.

On a combined year-to-date basis, reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads originated 13.7 million carloads, down 3.1 percent, and 9.4 million trailers and containers, down 1.1 percent compared with totals through 34 weeks last year.