U.S. freight railroads moved fewer volumes in 2022 than 2021 amid declines in intermodal traffic, according to recent industry data.
Railroad intermodal volumes are down, but consumer spending remains relatively strong. Carloads of coal are up, but forest products are down. Whether these volume changes reflect broader macroeconomic slowing remains less clear.
The CEOs of Union Pacific, CSX and Norfolk Southern anticipate rail volumes to grow amid service improvements and despite macroeconomic uncertainties, according to their comments at an investor conference this week.
Rail service levels are impacting trucking intermodal growth plans. At a Deutsche Bank transportation conference on Tuesday, J.B. Hunt noted that intermodal demand remained strong but poor rail service appears to be creating a bottleneck.
Transborder freight between the U.S. and North American countries (Canada and Mexico) in January 2022
FreightWaves market expert Mike Baudendistel chats with Harris Ligon, co-founder and CEO of a stealth startup, about how recent growth trends for industrial production in North America will affect rail volumes and equipment availability.
From executive transitions at Union Pacific and Pacific West to January rail volumes to new offerings in the MoW lessor space, here are some news items rounding out the week.
Despite being stymied by labor shortages and lack of equipment such as chassis in the second half of 2021, U.S. intermodal volumes were actually pretty high considering the yearly total.
From M&A to supply chain disruptions, the freight rail industry navigated an often unpredictable 2021.
Freight railroads are committed to delivering the best possible service product for customers and consumers
