railroad vs. trucking

Railroads are a responsible way to mitigate the transportation-related causes of climate change

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.  That search for modal share growth is still fundamentally the real strategic challenge for the seven Class 1 North American railroads.  Profitability remains excellent.  Net cash flow? Down a bit during the second quarter […]

Jim Blaze explores the pontential for a merger or mergers among the Class 1 railroads.

Railroad volumes continue to drop. What might they do to increase volumes? Where are the volume increases going to come from?

Like all industries, the coronavirus has impacted railroads. What should they be doing to gain market share and better serve their customers?

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic the Class I railroads were mothballing freight cars – and locomotives. Jim Blaze examines the issues surrounding the surplus of locomotives.

The pandemic’s economic toll has hit all sectors of transportation, including rail. Read how railroads can manage costs during this global crisis.

The coronavirus is impacting all sectors of the economy, and railroads are no different. Read what expert Jim Blaze thinks will happen going forward.

Are there too many railroad freight cars? Jim Blaze writes about many reasons why this is the case.

Jim Blaze writes about the outlook for intermodal rail in 2020.

FreightWaves Market Expert Mike Baudendistel writes about the issues impacting rail intermodal in 2020, and the ongoing battle between the railroads and the trucking industry.

In the past 30 years railroad freight cars have been able to carry heavier loads, thanks to decisions made in the late 1980s. Read Jim Blaze’s article about what happened and how it has been very important to the railroads.

Uncertainty is still an underlying theme facing North American freight railroads.

Railroads once carried much of the fresh produce across the U.S. Can they do it again? Jim Blaze explores the topic in his latest commentary.

Jim Blaze explores whether the Class 1 railroads are downsizing their railcar fleets.

Jim Blaze explores the decline of railroad freight volume and what may happen going forward.

Jim Blaze profiles TTX, a company that is essential to the railroad industry.

Jim Blaze writes about the key messages he extrapolated about railroading in 2019.

Jim Blaze writes about the potential of short-haul intermodal traffic on the North American Class 1 railroads.

Market Expert Michael Baudendistel writes about rail intermodal volume is lower for the long-term, or can it be more competitive with trucking.

Anthony and Zach discuss what will trim the fat in the oversupplied trucking market as well as talk about why Intermodal has not materialized as the savior of the rail volumes with Mike Baudendistel.

Railroad market voice Jim Blaze writes about technological advances that are making railroads’ capital expenditures on infrastructure more efficient.

The European Green Deal is looking to shift 75% of EU freight traffic from road to rail and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050.

Jim Blaze writes about the Alameda Corridor in Los Angeles, that takes some of the freight from the harbor to distribution centers. Is it still economically viable?

Jim Blaze writes about the North American railroads KPIs, and what the railroads need to do to increase railcar use, revenue and shipper loyalty.

Market expert Michael Baudendistel writes about whether there is a rail recession, or are railroads paring operations and employees to fatten their bottom lines.

Shipping liquified natural gas by rail is a controversial topic. Read what Jim Blaze thinks about the idea in his latest commentary.

Ben Thrower writes about the positive and negative aspects of precision scheduled railroading in this commentary article.

Jim Blaze explains the new CSX trip compliance reporting… perhaps the first step for railroads to compete more effectively with the trucking industry.

Jim Blaze writes about the competitiveness of railroads vs. trucks and the railroads’ lack of interoperability.

Maintaining strict emissions regulations and levying a carbon tax on freight movement will help reduce mortality rates due to air pollution.

Trucking volumes are up YoY, while rail intermodal volumes have fallen. Now may be the time for long time competitors to explore new partnerships.

U.S. rail volumes are down nearly 4% year-to-date amid a 6.6% decline for coal and a 4% drop for intermodal.

Market Voice Jim Blaze contents that railroads are using the wrong KPIs to increase volume and capture market share from trucks.

Market Voice Jim Blaze writes about rail intermodal and what is happening to this area of the railroad sector.

Jim Blaze writes about FreightWaves SONAR and how it could be a helpful tool for the freight railroads.

Jim Blaze writes about the recent history of intermodal rail service and what may happen in the next few years.

The Class I railroads have reported their second quarter/first-half of 2019 results. Jim Blaze writes about what may happen during the remainder of 2019.

Jim Blaze writes about the pros and cons of shippers owning or leasing their own freight railcars to move their products.

Jim Blaze writes about earnings season for the railroads, and what investors, customers and employees should be looking and asking for in the railroads’ quarterly earnings reports.

Jim Blaze writes about the movement of grain by rail. This is a huge business for U.S. and Canadian railroads, and is also critical to the export market of the two countries.

Market expert Jim Blaze explores what railroads need to do to capture more of the market share of oversize loads, which are essential to the economy and profitable as well.

Market expert Jim Blaze dissects the recent Surface Transportation Board hearings on demurrage and accessorial charges. Read his observations on the relationships between the railroads and their shipper customers…

Market expert Jim Blaze looks at how rail freight volume has changed over the years and what the outlook is for the next decade. Learn what he thinks will happen to the railroad industry in its long-term competition with trucking to carry freight.