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Carloads dropped slightly, but intermodal traffic inched up for U.S. railroads in 2008's 11th week. During the period ending March 15, carloads totaling 328,690 units fell 0.2 percent and intermodal volume totaling 216,412 units rose 1.4 percent compared with totals from 2007's 11th week, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Through 11 weeks, U.S. railroads originated 3.5 million carloads, up 1.2 percent, and 2.4 million containers and trailers, down 4.1 percent year over year. Total estimated volume of 363.6 billion ton-miles represented a 2.3 percent increase.

Canadian railroads had a similar week. During the period ending March 15, their carloads totaling 72,809 units dropped 7.2 percent but intermodal loads totaling 44,096 units rose 0.3 percent year over year. Through 11 weeks, Canadian roads originated 799,690 carloads, down 1.7 percent, and 498,409 containers and trailers, up 6.1 percent compared with totals from the same 2007 period.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 11 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads handled 4.3 million carloads, up 0.6 percent, and 2.9 million containers and trailers, down 2.5 percent year over year.