Jim Blaze

Jim Blaze is a railroad career economist with an engineering background and a strategic analysis outlook. Jim’s career spans 21 years with Consolidated Rail Corporation (CONRAIL), 17 years with the rail engineering firm Zeta Tech Associates, 7 years with the State of Illinois Department of Transportation in Chicago urban goods movement research, and two years studying what to do with the seven bankrupt and unrecognizable Northeast railroads at the federal agency USRA. Now primarily a teacher and writer, Jim likes to focus on contrarian aspects of the railroad industry.

Railroad

Jim Blaze 2 days ago
0 1,166

Commentary: Is the death of rail-hauled coal true, or premature?

Market expert Jim Blaze writes about the movement of coal by rail. He explores the history of rail-coal; more importantly,…
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Railroad

Jim Blaze 1 week ago
1 510

Commentary: future of U.S. railroads’ chemical transport looks strong

Railroad market expert Jim Blaze writes about the movement of chemicals by rail and how that sub-set of railroad traffic…
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Railroad

Jim Blaze 2 weeks ago
0 348

Commentary: What are the opportunities for dimensional freight?

Market expert Jim Blaze explores what railroads need to do to capture more of the market share of oversize loads,…
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Railroad

Jim Blaze 3 weeks ago
0 1,035

Railroads risk market share by charging shippers excessive fees

Market expert Jim Blaze dissects the recent Surface Transportation Board hearings on demurrage and accessorial charges. Read his observations on…
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Business

Jim Blaze 4 weeks ago
0 1,416

Railcar economics are as complex as the movement of freight

Market expert Jim Blaze explains the economics behind railcars. He also provides information about the various types of railcars and…
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Market Insight

Jim Blaze 05/15/2019
0 181

SONAR graph hints at land-based transcontinental rates leverage

Rail market expert Jim Blaze discusses how FreightWaves SONAR can help determine how best to ship freight.
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Railroad

Jim Blaze 05/14/2019
0 521

Is the U.S. rail freight industry ready for broad open access in key markets?

FreightWaves market expert Jim Blaze looks at a regulatory spat between Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway over the…
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News

Jim Blaze 05/10/2019
2 698

Amtrak and the U.S. freight railroads – what’s the essential business model difference?

Market expert Jim Blaze compares and contrasts Amtrak and America's freight railroads.
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Economics

Jim Blaze 04/30/2019
0 274

U.S. freight railroads – real estate moguls?

Market expert Jim Blaze looks at an under-appreciated asset of North America’s freight railroads - their real estate holdings. Read…
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Economics

Jim Blaze 04/22/2019
0 362

Is rail freight volume growing?

Market expert Jim Blaze looks at how rail freight volume has changed over the years and what the outlook is…
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