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Labor Day skewed U.S. railroads' year-over-year traffic comparisons for the week ending Sept. 11, but year-to-date carloads and intermodal loads show volumes continue to build compared with 2003, according to Association of American Railroads data.

Through the year's first 36 weeks, U.S. roads moved 12,052,695 carloads, up 3.2 percent, and 7,456,724 trailers and containers, up 9.4 percent compared with similar 2003 data. Total estimated volume of 1.089 trillion ton-miles rose 4.4 percent.

Through 36 weeks, Canadian roads' carloads totaling 2,395,093 units increased 8.5 percent, but their intermodal loads totaling 1,492,598 units were relatively flat, dropping 0.1 percent.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 36 weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 14,447,788 carloads, up 4.1 percent, and 8,949,322 trailers and containers, up 7.7 percent compared with last year.

In Mexico, TFM S.A. de C.V. continues to mount a traffic comeback. Through 36 weeks, TFM's 309,413 carloads and 131,907 intermodal loads rose 1.2 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively, compared with similar 2003 data.