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It only took three weeks for U.S. railroads to break their weekly container volume record. During the week ending Aug. 20, the roads moved 179,472 containers, besting the previous high-water mark of 177,110 units, according to the Association of American Railroads.

Total weekly intermodal volume of 236,785 containers and trailers rose 9 percent compared with the same 2004 period and established the roads’ second-highest weekly record.

U.S. roads also fared well with carload traffic. During the week ending Aug. 20, the roads moved 339,225 carloads, a 2 percent increase compared with the same 2004 week.

During 2005’s first 33 weeks, U.S. roads moved 10.97 million carloads, up 1.5 percent, and 7.25 million trailers and containers, up 6.2 percent compared with the same 2004 period. Total estimated volume of 1.05 trillion ton-miles rose 2.3 percent.

Canadian railroads’ weekly carloads continued to decline while intermodal volume climbed. During the week ending Aug. 20, the roads moved 75,696 carloads, down 4.6 percent, and 44,290 intermodal loads, up 4.7 percent compared with the same 2004 week.

Through 33 weeks, Canadian roads’ carloads totaling 2.5 million units dropped 0.5 percent and intermodal loads totaling 1.4 million units rose 2.4 percent compared with the same 2004 period.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 33 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian roads moved 13.46 million carloads, up 1.1 percent, and 8.64 million trailers and containers, up 5.6 percent compared with 2004’s first 33 weeks.

In Mexico, TFM S.A. de C.V.’s weekly carloads totaling 8,135 units and intermodal loads totaling 3,844 units declined 13.8 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively, compared with the same 2004 week. Through 33 weeks, TFM moved 280,540 carloads, down 0.6 percent, and 125,880 trailers and containers, up 5.7 percent compared with 2004’s first 33 weeks.