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With only three weeks left in 2010, U.S. railroads maintained their traffic-building momentum. During the year’s 49th week ending Dec. 11, they originated 286,391 carloads, up 10.2 percent, and 233,935 intermodal loads, up 14.1 percent compared with volumes from the same week in 2009, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Fifteen of 19 carload commodity groups registered gains, while container volume jumped 15.9 percent and trailer volume rose 6.4 percent.

For the week, Canadian railroads reported 74,098 carloads, up 10.9 percent, and 47,447 containers and trailers, up 23.6 percent year over year. Mexican railroads reported an 8.3 percent increase in carload volume at 13,879 units and 7.1 percent rise in intermodal volume at 7,323 units.

Through 2010’s first 49 weeks, 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads originated 18.3 million carloads, up 9.3 percent, and 13.4 million containers and trailers, up 14.8 percent year over year.

For more AAR data for the week ending Dec. 11 and through 49 weeks, follow this link.

Meanwhile, the AAR also announced several changes to certain carload commodity groups that will take effect with traffic reporting for 2011’s first week. The waste and scrap materials commodity group will be split into iron and steel scrap, and waste and non-ferrous scrap groups. In addition, crude petroleum will be moved to the petroleum products group and distiller’s dried grains will be moved to the grain mill products group.