AAR also exported that for the week ending July 28, railroads originated 288,167 carloads, down 1.5% compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume totaled 25,319 trailers and containers, up 4.1%.

For the first 30 weeks of 2012, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of

8,428,551 carloads, down 2.6% from the same point last year, and 6,995,801 trailers and containers, up 3.65%.

Canadian railroads reported 77,093 carloads for the week, down 1.45% compared with the same week last year, and 55,775 trailers and containers, up 8.2% compared with 2011.

Mexican railroads reported 15,983 carloads for the week, up 1.7% from the same week last year, and 11,213 trailers and containers, up 20.8%.