CSX delivers record service, but taking traffic from trucks is a long game

Railroads see efficient, reliable intermodal service as the key to converting freight from highway to rail.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 17, 2020

Union Pacific CEO: PSR is dead. Long live PSR.

After difficult conversations during the PSR transition, 2020 should bring smoother sailing for shippers, CEO Lance Fritz told the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 16, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Inside the trends affecting logistics management

The demise of the de minimis exception, trade tensions and tariffs are among the new challenges logistics managers are facing.  

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Class I railroads embrace PSR to mixed results

For the first six months of 2019, railroads celebrated dramatic results and profitable progress implementing precision-scheduled railroading. But as the year stretched on, PSR was put to the test.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 29, 2019

Is railroad profitability bad for shippers?

The Surface Transportation Board considers the question as it examines changing the standards by which shippers can seek recourse against railroad rates.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 19, 2019

Rail volume down for 9th straight month in November

A weak manufacturing sector has affected volume on the rails and overcapacity in the trucking market has made it hard to complete for intermodal.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 16, 2019

Transportation sector lagging in carbon reduction efforts

The Science-Based Targets Initiative calls out Toyota, A.P. Moller-Maersk, Daimler and Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line as high-impact companies in the transportation sector committed to the emissions reduction efforts.  

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 4, 2019

Canadian National reaches deal with Teamsters Canada to end strike

Details of the agreement will be publicly released after the members have had a chance to read it, the Teamsters said in a release.

By Emma Cosgrove • Updated Nov. 26, 2019

CSX becomes first railroad to join Maersk blockchain platform TradeLens

The platform now consists of more than 100 organizations, 55 ports and terminals and a dozen customs authorities, according to Maersk.

By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 8, 2019

Roadrunner, hit by GM strike and malware attack, sells intermodal business for $51M

Roadrunner Intermodal Services uses a network of 23 terminals across the country to move freight between ports, rail ramps and shipping docks. 

By Matt Leonard • Nov. 6, 2019

Canadian National returns to PSR basics ahead of 'challenging economic environment'

The railroad reported flat volume in the third quarter and expects overall North American rail volume to undeperform due to cautious corporate investment and trade uncertainty. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 24, 2019

Norfolk Southern struggles to prove PSR progress amid low volumes

"The volume picture has changed rather dramatically since we issued the three-year plan in February," said CEO Jim Squires.

By Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 24, 2019

Kansas City Southern bucks downward volume trend with cross-border freight boost

Cross-border freight volume grew 12% year-over-year in the third quarter, but the railroad still expects overall volume to end the year flat or slightly down.

By Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 21, 2019

Union Pacific struggles to boost intermodal despite PSR progress

Service has improved, said Jim Vena, the railroad's COO and PSR czar, but it will take time for customers to realize it. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 17, 2019

CSX breaks records for operating ratio, trip compliance

The Class I railroad is sharing real-time trip compliance data with shippers as part of a continued effort to boost customer service. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 17, 2019

BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific face lawsuits from dozens of shippers. Here's why.

After shippers' attempt to form a class were denied many of them filed their own suits, resulting in a flurry of legal action hitting carriers last week.

By Matt Leonard • Oct. 8, 2019

In logistics, all roads lead to Memphis

The FedEx hub provides access to the four Rs: runway, rail, road and river.

By Barry Hochfelder • Sept. 25, 2019

US rail traffic down for 7th straight month in August

Railroads have taken a hit amid trade uncertainty and a decline in agricultural exports to China. 

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 20, 2019

EEOC: Union Pacific ignored doctor's opinion of worker recovered from tumor

Employers violate the ADA if they claim an employee with medical restrictions poses a safety risk but cannot show a "direct threat," EEOC has said. 

By Lisa Burden • Sept. 13, 2019

Union Pacific suspends new shipper fees indefinitely

Such charges are a point of friction between railroads and shippers, especially since demurrage and accessorial fees have become more common in the age of precision-scheduled railroading (PSR), according to shippers. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Sept. 6, 2019

How will dwindling coal freight affect rail shippers?

The demand for coal from utilities is expected to drop by 50% by 2030, which would lead to a $5 billion revenue loss for railroads, according to Moody's. 

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 5, 2019

CN, CSX to team up on intermodal service

The service, which begins in October, will connect Montreal and southern Ontario to northeastern U.S. ports, aiming to take freight off the highways and onto the rails. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 12, 2019

Why BNSF is bucking the PSR trend and adding logistics centers

As other Class I railroads shed lines and close yards, BNSF is adding logistics centers to serve customers, with the most recent addition outside of Denver.

By Gary Wollenhaupt • Aug. 1, 2019

Rail service is at an all-time low, shippers tell House committee

The testimony supported the view that under the priorities inherent in precision-scheduled railroading, railroads are more focused on investors and regulators than customers. 

By Emma Cosgrove • July 26, 2019

Norfolk Southern expects 2019 intermodal volume to exceed 2018

Executives took a more optimistic view than other Class I railroads and downplayed tempered forecasts for rail growth. 

By Emma Cosgrove • July 25, 2019

How to conduct a freight sustainability analysis

Taking a step-by-step approach to finding the biggest sources of emissions in freight transportation can benefit the business and the bottom line.

By Barry Hochfelder • July 23, 2019