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During the week ended March 13, U.S. railroads moved 333,846 carloads, up 1 percent, and 199,547 trailers and containers, up 7.7 percent compared with the same 2003 period, according to Association of American Railroads data. Estimated total volume of 30.0 billion ton-miles rose 2.7 percent.

U.S. roads' traffic news was equally good through the year's first 10 weeks: carloads totaling 3,274,623 increased 2.7 percent and intermodal loads totaling 1,958,818 rose 6.6 percent compared with a similar 2003 period.

Canadian roads increased weekly carloads 15.6 percent to 69,745, but intermodal loads dropped 0.8 percent to 38,391 compared with the same 2003 week. Through 2004's first 10 weeks, Canadian roads moved 648,719 carloads, up 6 percent, and 388,391 trailers and containers, down 1.7 percent compared with last year.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 10 weeks, 15 reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 3,923,342 carloads, up 3.2 percent, and 2,347,209 trailers and containers, up 5.2 percent compared with the same 2003 period.

In Mexico, TFM S.A. de C.V.'s traffic continues to decline. During the week ending March 13, carloads totaling 9,206 rose 5.4 percent but intermodal loads totaling 3,746 decreased 8.3 percent compared with the same 2003 week. Through 10 weeks, TFM moved 82,169 carloads, down 8.3 percent, and 33,880 trailers and containers, down 8.8 percent compared with last year.