Railroad

The financial impact of the United States railroad industry on all facets of the nation’s economy cannot even come close to being understated. Association of American Railroad State of the Industry Report.

Intermodalism is set to grow even faster as more business is conducted in cross-border commerce.

A global logistics hub envisioned for Oakland's decommissioned army base takes a big step forward beginning today. The Port of Oakland and Union Pacific Railroad start construction to link the site with UP’s main line.

U.S. Carloads were up 7.5 percent at 276,573, and intermodal at 240,947 containers and trailers was up 2.1 percent annually.

United States Class I carloads were up 33,838 carloads–or 2.9 percent annually–at 1,212,287 in August, and intermodal was also solid in August at 1,075,688 containers and trailers, which represented a 4.3 percent-or increase of 44,520 intermodal units, over August 2013.

United States Class I carloads were up 86,792 carloads–or 6.3 percent annually–at 1,471,811 in July, and intermodal volume was up 5.5 percent annually––or 67,524 units––at 1,286,160 containers and trailers for the highest July on the intermodal side ever recorded.

With an eye on making transportation of crude oil by rail (CBR) and ethanol safer following various tragic accidents over the last year, the United States Department of Transportation yesterday released details regarding its rulemaking proposal designed to improve how large quantities of flammable materials by rail can be moved in a safer manner.

In a move geared toward expanding its global forwarding services and provide shippers with more options, UPS recently announced that it has added a Full Container Load (FCL) rail offering to its China-to-Europe services portfolio.

Following a cancellation last fall due to the federal government shutdown, the Department of Transportation’s Surface Transportation Board (STB) said this week it has rescheduled its public hearing “Petition for rulemaking to adopt revised competitive switching rules to March 25-26 at its Washington, D.C. headquarters.

Class I railroad carrier CSX today reported second quarter net earnings of $535 million and $0.52 per share, which was up four percent annually and beat Wall Street estimates of $0.47 per share.

As the Chairman of NASSTRAC’s Advocacy Committee, in concerns me when a shipper asks the following: “Why should I get informed, engaged and involved in what is happening in the transportation industry?”

A slow growing economy and the staving off of a potential east and gulf coast ports strike translated into mixed shipment and expenditure results in October, according to the October edition of the Cass Freight Index Report from Cass Information Systems.

Carload volume—at 288,791—was down 4.4 percent annually, and intermodal volumes—at 253,883 trailers and containers—were up 3.5 percent annually.

Carload volume—at 272,301—was down 2.3 percent annually , and intermodal volumes—at 214,517 trailers and containers—were up 3.1 percent.

A Bloomberg report states that the four U.S.-based Class I railroads have asked the U.S. Court of Appeals to reverse the ruling, explaining that it could lead to a cumulative $10 billion or more in potential damages.