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July's been a good month so far for U.S. railroads. They boosted carload volume for the second-straight week.

During the week ending July 12, the railroads originated 321,049 carloads, up 3.3 percent compared with carloadings from the same 2007 period, according to the Association of American Railroads.

However, their intermodal volume totaled 231,921 containers and trailers, down 2.8 percent year over year.

During 2008's first 28 weeks, U.S. railroads originated 9 million carloads, up 0.4 percent, and 6.2 million intermodal loads, down 3.1 percent compared with totals from the same 2007 period. Total volume reached an estimated 937.4 billion ton-miles, representing a 1.6 percent increase vs. last year.

Canadian railroads had a good week all around. During the period ending July 12, their carloads totaling 73,467 units held steady vs. last year's total while their intermodal volume totaling 50,840 units rose 4.5 percent. Through 28 weeks, Canadian railroads originated 2 million carloads, down 4 percent, and 1.3 million containers and trailers, up 4.5 percent year over year.

Combined cumulative-volume data through 28 weeks shows U.S. and Canadian railroads reported a 0.5 percent dip in originated carloads to 11.1 million units and a 1.9 percent decline in intermodal volume to 7.5 million units compared with totals from the same 2007 period.