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!
Trucking industry and logistics leaders said the lockout by Canada’s two largest railroads Thursday could create capacity crunches and rate spikes across the freight industry.
CN and CPKC early Thursday locked out 9,300 union employees, bringing trains to a halt in a move that could disrupt supply chains throughout North America.
The industries to be most heavily impacted are those in bulk commodities, such as grain, potash and metallurgical coal. In addition, several intermodal corridors will be heavily impacted including long-haul international intermodal lanes, cross-border lanes. US intermodal volume is seeing a boost, but that could lead to congestion.
CN said it received no response from Teamsters after making a final contract offer in a bid to avoid service disruption.
Eastern U.S. railroad operator CSX has reached a deal with several of its unions well before a deadline.
While contract talks between Canadian National, Canadian Pacific Kansas City and union employees continue, a rail shutdown would reverberate through the supply chain connecting Canada and the U.S.
Amid lockout and strike notices, contract bargaining continues as Ottawa makes a push for both sides to come together on a new rail labor contract.
A federal appeals court on Tuesday tossed out the Surface Transportation Board’s streamlined process for resolving rate disputes between shippers and railroads.
Canada’s busiest import gateway is managing port fluidity as railroads issue lockout notices, and Teamsters are warning of a planned strike as the latest contract talks fail.
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference on Sunday served a 72-hour strike notice to Canadian Pacific Kansas City, saying the union will walk out at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, barring a last-minute labor agreement.
Construction continues on a Chicago bridge project designed to reduce delays and improve flow by untangling freight and passenger rail lines.
he Surface Transportation Board will hear from more than three dozen participants during its two-day hearing next month regarding recent trends and strategies for growth in freight railroad traffic.
Canada’s labor minister has denied CN’s request to intervene in contract talks with the union representing engineers and conductors.
Teamsters Canada says a breakthrough is possible in talks set for Friday with CN and CPKC, but the union accuses the railroads of not bargaining in good faith.
Canadian railroads CN and CPKC say they support the interests of both rail workers and the Canadian public as a possible strike approaches.
Intermodal traffic continues to drive an overall increase.
Operators of first-mile and last-mile railroads are staffing up for a legislative push ahead of fall elections.
Eastern Class 1 railroads Norfolk Southern and CSX will help reach Midwest cities with double-stack trains from the newly expanded Port of Virginia central rail yard.
The Blue Ridge Connector will improve intermodal services to the northeast Georgia logistics center.
The Canada Industrial Relations Board said today that a work stoppage on CN and CPKC would not present a threat to public health and safety, which cleared the way for a strike if the railways and union cannot reach negotiated settlements.
