With the airline industry reeling, trucks, trains and buses have filled Greater Cincinnati's transportation void.

        Yet these firms join the struggling airlines in nervous anticipation of another foe: a slowing economy.

        “We've really come to a screeching halt,” said Bob Thomas, general manager of Turner Transfer, a long-haul trucking firm that carries machine tools and other specialty parts. “With (Monday's) tumble in the stock market, a lot of people are nervous.”

        Like other long-haul trucking companies, Turner Transfer's business has been sluggish because of cutbacks in manufacturing.

        Mr. Thomas fears that the terrorist strikes have jolted consumer and business confidence, pushing a weak economy into recession.

        Air freight companies are seeking to recover from last week's disruption. DHL Worldwide Express, which operates a hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, has largely plowed through its backlog that stacked up during last week's shutdown. “We're in pretty good shape,” said Steve White, vice president and general manager.

        Perhaps a more important long-term question is whether stricter safety regulations will harm the air cargo industry.

        “At this point, obviously, it's a concern,” Mr. White said. “We are not sure what the restrictions will be. We expect there will be some belt-tightening.”

        Any new regulations that slow air cargo delivery could be a boon to long-haul trucking firms, said John Shorten, co-owner of S&S Delivery Inc. in Bond Hill.

        Major train and bus companies are returning to normal ridership after a brief spike last week. Airline passengers used cars, trains or buses to reach destinations.

        Dallas-based Greyhound reported a 119 percent increase in Cincinnati bus ridership last Thursday, spokeswoman Kristin Parsley said. Ridership tapered off over the weekend, returning to normal levels Sunday. Amtrak has seen a 40 percent jump in ridership since last week.

        Amtrak has added seats on its trains to handle the greater demand, said Kevin Johnson, spokesman for Amtrak in Chicago.

        “We took a lot of people from airports where they were stranded,” Mr. Johnson said.

        The ridership has declined slightly since airlines resumed service, but Amtrak is still recording numbers that rival its busiest summer months.

        What the week has shown is how critical transportation is to Greater Cincinnati's economy.

        Toyota Motor Corp.'s Georgetown, Ky., plant shut down last week after beefed-up security at the Canadian border delayed parts deliveries.

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