Railroads continue to play a significant role in North America’s economic infrastructure. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration, the U.S. rail freight network covers almost 140,000 route miles and is generally considered the largest, safest, and most cost-efficient freight system in the world. In addition, says the FRA, the almost $80 billion rail freight industry creates more than 167,000 jobs across the country.
In essence, rail freight companies charge businesses to carry cargo across their network of rails. Their rates are overseen by the Surface Transportation Board, a federal agency that regulates financial aspects of surface transportation. Major railroads in North America include Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Canadian National Railway.
Keep up with the latest news, trends and reports concerning rail freight transport here!
About 25% of the total railcar fleet is in storage of one kind or another. Jim Blaze writes about best practices of rail storage.
The Federal Railroad Administration and Volpe are in the middle of conducting a survey on how railroaders gather and share information about occupational safety.
CN lays out 2020 capex plans for Nova Scotia, railroad supply group’s head to depart, and Norfolk Southern makes changes to its demurrage and accessorial charges tariffs.
The changes in leadership come as the railroad continues to deploy precision scheduled railroading.
Consolidated Chassis Management chief executive foresees an increased requirement for chassis to accommodate rising tide of intermodal container moves as the North American economy shakes off COVID-19.
The latest infrastructure bill phases out DB-60 air brake control valves manufactured before January 2006 over concerns about their effectiveness in cold weather.
The former worker is entitled to over $3.1 million in compensatory and punitive damages, lost wages, and front pay.
AAL Shipping, an operator of “mega-size” project cargo ships, expects rebound for smaller U.S. import and export project cargoes in 2021, if COVID-19 pandemic subsides later this year.
Warehousing jobs soar, rail jobs sliced again
Rail traffic continued to build through June. U.S. intermodal traffic was only off 5% year-over-year in week 26.
The revisions encourage technology integration and encourage preventative measures, say some stakeholders.
The funding is part of CN’s capex budget for 2020.
FreightWaves has been honored with 9 Azbee Awards of Excellence, including four Gold Awards.
The railway is working on infrastructure improvements amid lower market demand because of the coronavirus.
The Port of Savannah handled the most containerized agricultural export volumes last year among all U.S. ports, according to a national database.
Rail traffic continues to increase after bottoming out in April and May.
Border agents found 48 stowaways attempting to enter the U.S. illegally at rail crossings at the El Paso, Texas, port of entry.
Company cites sharp, pandemic-induced drop in rail volumes.
New provisions seek a comprehensive review of the U.S. grade crossing inventory.
Opposing sides shore up as the infrastructure bill gets folded into a trillion-dollar package.
