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!
The monthly BLS report, catching up on October and November data, showed a steady decline in truck transportation employment.
Will joined gas conglomerate CF Industries in 2007 and had served as CEO since 2014
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern win the backing of Congressmen from Deep South states where they operate for their controversial transcontinental rail merger.
Intermodal shipments led U.S. rail freight lower in the latest weekly data but traffic remains higher year-to-date.
Union Pacific has set a specific date to submit its application to federal regulators for its merger with Norfolk Southern.
CSX’s new CEO won’t be flying the company jet.
The Federal Railroad Administration approved a waiver to allow for the expanded use of automatic track inspection technology.
Chassis provider TRAC has had its debt rating cut by Moody’s.
As an historic merger is set to reshape the U.S. supply chain, railroads say data proves they are the engine that powers the domestic economy.
The railroads had expected to file their formal merger application with the Surface Transportation Board this week.
U.S. ports urge strict evaluation by Surface Transportation Board of proposed transcontinental rail merger, cautioning on impact to the supply chain and economy.
Freight on U.S. railroads year-to-date stayed ahead of 2024 levels even as intermodal and carload shipments were weaker in the latest weekly data.
Federal regulators approved the sale of regional line Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway to Fortress Investment Group.
A new partnership will develop mobile carbon capture for the harbor railroad serving the busiest U.S. port complex.
Collaboration has been driving recent success for U.S. railroads, according to BNSF, and controversial plans for a transcontinental merger are unlikely to benefit shippers, or the rail industry.
Shares of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern rise as the railroads count down the days until filing their formal merger application with federal regulators.
A mega-merger of railroads would have to reverse a slow years-long market for freight to produce growth touted by Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, an industry panel said.
The top law enforcement officers from three states urged federal regulators to approve the $85 billion Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern railroad merger.
The delayed September jobs report showed truck transportation jobs declining from a month earlier.
Rail freight commodities and intermodal shipments were lower in the latest week’s data but remained ahead of 2024 for the year.
