Rail Freight

Rail traffic was up slightly for the week ending July 23, according to data released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

A new white paper from global real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle points to the increasing importance of inland ports as a critical link in the global supply chain.

Rail traffic was mixed for the week ending July 16, according to data released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Class I railroad carrier CSX got things rolling on the tracks with record-setting second quarter earnings of $506 million and $0.46 per share for a 28 percent annual gain. This topped Wall Street estimates in the $0.44 per share range.

Carload volume—at 245,574—was down 3.2 percent year-over-year.

Following flat traffic growth on an annual basis in May, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported that both carload and intermodal volumes in June were up compared to the same timeframe last year.

At a time when the freight railroad industry is seeing more than its fair share of regulatory action, rail shippers received some good news last week, when the Surface Transportation Board said it is reducing the fee shippers pay to file a railroad rate or unreasonable practice complaint from $20,000 to $350—while maintaining its $150 filing fee for an expedited small rate case.

The National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) filed a petition with the United States Surface Transportation Board (STB), requesting that the STB adopt new rules regarding reciprocal switching between Class I railroad carriers.

Carload volume—285,943—was up 0.3 percent year-over-year and ahead of the week ending June 25 at 284,562 and behind the week ending June 17 at 294,310.

Carload volume—at 284,562—was down 0.2 percent annually and behind the weeks ending June 17 and June 10 which hit 294,310 and 290,181, respectively.

Steady growth on the rails.

Earlier this week, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) held a public hearing to explore the current state of competition in the railroad industry, as well as possible policy alternatives to facilitate more competition.

Intermodal volumes hit a 2011 high for the second straight week at 237,682 trailers and containers for a 4.3 percent annual gain, topping the week ending June 4 at 237,422 by 260 trailers and containers.

Carload volume—at 290,181—was up 0.3 percent over last year, and ahead of the weeks ending June 3 and May 28 at 273,584 and 288,049, respectively. It was also behind the week ending April 2, which hit 305,905 carloads, marking the highest weekly carload tally since the end of 2008.

Business logistics costs rose 10.4 percent last year, totaling $1.21 trillion, which is about what American businesses paid for freight transport in 2010, according to the authoritative 22nd annual State of Logistics report released Wednesday.