A boom in the farm sector and a shortage of railcars has caused some to deliver goods via trucks, The Wall Street Journal reported Dec 1.

About 40 percent of the nation's grain is transported by railroad, with most of the remainder being carried by trucks and barges, The Journal said.

Although train delays are common during the harvest season, this year the train shortage is far more severe, resulting in higher expenses, The Journal said. As a result, some feed mills in the South are turning to trucks to keep their plants supplied with Midwest grain.

Major railroads told The Journal they expect to get their service back on track by early next year, when parts of their business typically slow down after the Christmas season.