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U.S. railroads are hoping their traffic volume in November’s first full week isn’t a harbinger of things to come. During the week ending Nov. 8, their carloads tumbled 8.4 percent to 314,433 units and intermodal volume dropped 6.3 percent to 228,632 units compared with totals from the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads.

Through 2008’s first 45 weeks, U.S. railroads originated 14.6 million carloads, down 0.7 percent, and 10.1 million containers and trailers, down 3.1 percent year over year. Volume totaled an estimated 1.52 trillion ton-miles, representing a 0.4 percent increase vs. totals recorded during the same 2007 period.

Canadian railroads didn’t fare any better in November’s first week. Their carloads plummeted 10.3 percent to 71,605 units and intermodal volume fell 8.4 percent to 47,782 units compared with totals from the same week last year. Through 45 weeks, Canadian railroads originated 3.3 million carloads, down 4.9 percent, and 2.2 million containers and trailers, up 3.2 percent.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 45 weeks, U.S. and Canadian railroads reported a 1.5 percent drop in carloads to 18 million units and a 2.1 percent decline in intermodal volume to 12.3 million units vs. traffic figures from 2007’s first 45 weeks.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s two largest railroads had an up-and-down week. During the period ending Nov. 8, Kansas City Southern de México S.A. de C.V.’s (KCSM) carloads tumbled 14.1 percent to 9,665 units but intermodal volume rose 7.6 percent to 5,981 units, while Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A. de C.V.’s carloads increased 11.5 percent to 12,363 units, but intermodal volume declined 2 percent to 2,439 units compared with totals from the same week last year.

Through 45 weeks, KCSM’s carloads totaled 460,192 units, down 6.2 percent, and intermodal loads totaled 228,543 units, up 9.2 percent. Ferromex boosted carloads 0.7 percent to 551,559 units, but reported a 0.6 percent drop in intermodal volume to 130,448 units.