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Labor Day skewed some traffic data comparisons for the week ending Sept. 4, according to the Association of American Railroads — last year's comparative week included the holiday; the most recent week didn't.

U.S. railroads increased carloads 10.8 percent to 345,656 units and intermodal loads, 27.4 percent to 219,541 units.

During 2004's first 35 weeks, U.S. roads moved 11,735,948 carloads, up 3.6 percent, and 7,267,993 trailers and containers, up 10 percent compared with similar 2003 data. Estimated total volume of 1.06 trillion ton-miles rose 4.7 percent.

Through 35 weeks, Canadian roads increased carloads 8.9 percent to 2,334,216 units and intermodal loads, 0.2 percent to 1,454,733 units. The non-apples-for-apples weekly comparison showed Canadian roads' carloads and intermodal loads rising 12.4 percent to 65,135 units and 12.2 percent to 43,540 units, respectively.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 35 weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 14,070,164 carloads, up 4.4 percent, and 8,722,726 trailers and containers, up 8.2 percent compared with similar 2003 data.

Meanwhile, TFM S.A. de C.V. continued to post healthier weekly traffic figures, which were unaffected by a national holiday. During the week ending Sept. 4, the road increased carloads and intermodal loads 8.7 percent and 30.4 percent, respectively, compared with the same 2003 week. Through 35 weeks, TFM moved 300,055 carloads, up 0.7 percent, and 127,734 trailers and containers, up 3 percent compared with last year.