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The lingering effects of Midwestern floods continued to hamper U.S. railroads' traffic. During the week ending June 21, their carloads totaling 318,275 units declined 5.7 percent and intermodal volume totaling 228,547 units fell 5.6 percent compared with totals from the same 2007 period, according to Association of American Railroads data.

However, through 2008's first 25 weeks, U.S. roads' originated carloads remained ahead of last year's pace, inching up 0.3 percent to 8.1 million units. Intermodal volume totaling 5.6 million containers and trailers dropped 3.2 percent vs. the same 2007 period, but estimated volume totaling 839.8 billion ton-miles rose 1.6 percent.

Canadian railroads had a rough week on two counts. During the week ending June 21, their originated carloads declined 6.9 percent to 75,754 units and intermodal volume decreased 1.4 percent to 48,407 units compared with totals from the same 2007 period. Through 25 weeks, Canadian railroads originated 1.9 million carloads, down 4 percent, and 1.2 million containers and trailers, up 4.3 percent year over year.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 25 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads originated 10 million carloads, down 0.5 percent, and 6.7 million intermodal loads, down 1.9 percent compared with totals from the same 2007 period.