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 outlook for intermodal freight transportation and what’s going on with driver cash flow and factoring issues will be two of the key topics of discussion on the September 28-29 edition of FreightWaves Radio. Rick LaGore, the CEO of Intek Freight and Logistics, will join us to talk about where his company sits in the […]
Year-to-date U.S. rail traffic down 3.8 percent from the same period in 2018.
The Canadian class I railroads outlined a number of growth opportunities at an investor conference. Intermodal capacity expansion at the ports and grain delays provided the big takeaways.
To meet future rail demand, stakeholders must confront communication dysfunction.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture agency looks forward to receiving import documentation through Customs and Border Protection’s International Trade Data System.
Declining coal consumption in the U.S. may have led to the dispute.
But a lot depends on stabilizing global growth and an industrial recovery in the United States.
Norfolk Southern announced that Claude Mongeau has been elected as a director. The former Canadian National Railway head may be viewed as an effort to improve PSR initiatives or to explore potential opportunities to partner with other Class I railroads.
The recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board relate to a fatal October 2018 accident in which a moving train struck a stationary one.
As precision scheduled railroading takes hold, headcount levels drop to their lowest in years.
FreightCar America entered a joint venture to build a new manufacturing facility in Mexico as part of its cost improvement initiative.
Through the continued development of automated processes, U.S. Customs and Border Protection foresees the day when paper export manifests will no longer be necessary.
The rail equipment manufacturer will close its Boise facility and move operations to Erie.
Two lawmakers want more extensive review of the risks and practice of using tank cars to haul liquefied natural gas.
Executives at North America’s major railroads are making the case that intermodal service will be more reliable and consistent after a year of major service changes. This comes as weakness in the industrial economy makes consumer-driven freight more important than ever to the railroads. Collectively known as precision scheduled railroading, the efficiency drives have made […]
Trade uncertainty and loose truck capacity continue to weigh on rail traffic.
The Port of Savannah’s expansion plans will benefit shippers — so long as infrastructure needs outside the port are met.
The trade group has been lobbying Congress to make permanent a tax credit for infrastructure investments.
The railroad, which has dedicated operations in Mexico, has invested in capital infrastructure related to energy.
The halt in vehicle production at General Motors [NYSE: GM] plants on Sept. 16 over a labor dispute is expected to have ripple effects throughout the automakers’ supply chain, but experts say the severity of any business interruption will depend on the duration of the strike by the United Auto Workers. The most immediate casualty […]
