Rail Freight

North American shippers are producing considerable volume of cross-border freight. How shippers navigate the complexities revolving around border delays, near-shoring demands and Customs documentation will determine their transport efficiency.

In this podcast, Jeff Berman, Group News Editor for Logistics Management and the Peerless Media Supply Chain Group, interviews Tony Hatch, Principal of ABH Consulting.

In this podcast, Jeff Berman, Group News Editor for Logistics Management and the Peerless Media Supply Chain Group, interviews Tony Hatch, Principal of ABH Consulting.

CP has previously said that the deal is subject to approval from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and is expected to be completed by mid-2022. STB leadership said last week it received a “notice of intent” about the proposed transaction.

While shippers work to overcome the challenges introduced by COVID-19 and settle into this new world, a focused approach bridged by digital capabilities will help bring some semblance of order out of the uncertainty. Here are three areas to consider on your way to stabilization.

Rail carloads—at 226,687—were off 9.6% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers—at 295,269—saw a 6.3% gain.

Service levels hitting new highs during COVID-19.

On the trucking side, Avery Vise, FTR Vice President of Trucking, explained that, unlike other sectors of the economy, trucking has some near-term pressure, in the form of increased activity, saying it is actually surging. Looking at other modes, FTR Vice President of Rail and Intermodal Todd Tranausky said on the webcast that intermodal is going to be under more pressure than originally anticipated coming into 2020.

In this webcast, our panel will provide a comprehensive update on the current state of the rail/intermodal markets and offer an in-depth look at the pain points shippers have been experiencing (service challenges, precision scheduled railroading (PSR), rates, capacity management) and offers shippers advice on how to prepare for the Q4 2019.

Learn about the 36th Annual Quest for Quality Award winners for Rail/ Inter-modal Freight Carriers

Rail freight volumes trending down

Four of the nation’s top market analysts discuss volumes, rates, PSR implementation and recent service challenges in an effort to help shippers plot a clear course for the rest of 2019.

Baltimore’s Howard Street Tunnel expansion is back on track after CSX Transportation reversed its decision to pull out of the project, CSX has committed $91 million toward the project.

Trucking is by far the predominant mode of shipping in the U.S., but it has its constraints, from driver shortages to escalating costs and roadway congestion, and while freight matching technology is improving, it also has helped the intermodal industry move into its next evolution as well.

According to new JLL research, a looming capacity shortage in the trucking industry, coupled with rail’s high efficiency, is causing logistics suppliers and transportation providers to turn their focus to intermodal for their supply chain solutions.