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

Kansas City Southern reaps PSR benefits with revenue up despite flat volume

The railroad's second-quarter results offer further proof that precision-scheduled railroading principles are, so far, protecting profits from slowing volume. 

By Emma Cosgrove • July 22, 2019

Union Pacific expects a normal peak season despite slow first half

UP's revenue decline was in line with CSX's reporting earlier this week. Analysts are still attempting to sniff out the source of "softness" in rail demand.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 19, 2019

CSX lowers revenue projections due to 'puzzling' economy

The railroad originally projected revenue to be up 1-2% for the year but has now adjusted those predictions, expecting revenues to be down 1-2%.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 17, 2019

Barry moves north as freight services resume

As the Gulf Coast moves into damage assessment mode and freight movement resumes, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards told reporters the storm "could have played out very differently."

By Emma Cosgrove • July 15, 2019

UP intermodal customers subject to new fees for no-shows

The new fees demonstrate the trade-off for shippers that comes with more exact and efficient rail service — trucks need to show up when they say they will.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 10, 2019

With rail volumes as a guide, economic outlook sours

Railroad volumes have been shakier in 2019 than 2018 after a tumultuous winter plagued by flooding in the Midwest and trade uncertainty as tariff threats come and go.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 8, 2019

DOT marks $600M in grants for port, rail infrastructure

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a slate of grants for coastal ports and state railroads this week, aimed at improving infrastructure, safety, technology and efficiency.

By Morgan Forde • June 13, 2019

CN acquires intermodal division of Alberta-based trucking firm

The deal represents a change in strategy for the railroad and a move toward a seamless, vertically-integrated service offering for shippers.

By Emma Cosgrove • May 14, 2019

Kansas City Southern tweaks KPIs to focus on shippers

The changes in metrics represent small revisions that frame the elements of speed and dwell from the customer's point of view. 

By Emma Cosgrove • May 8, 2019

Warren Buffett 'not above copying' other railroads on PSR

This openness to precision-scheduled railroading is a change in attitude for BNSF, which has, up to this point, seemed happy to watch the machinations of other railroads on the PSR path. 

By Emma Cosgrove • May 7, 2019

Canadian National's future acquisitions will 'feed the beast'

The railroad's March acquisition of trucking company TransX took its toll on some key indicators, but CEO JJ Ruest is confident the move will pay off in the long run. 

By Emma Cosgrove • May 1, 2019

Railroads blame PSR, harsh weather for muted intermodal growth

Operational strategies play a major role in volumes, leading railroads to experience the fading out of the intermodal boom of 2018 very differently.

By Emma Cosgrove • April 29, 2019

Norfolk Southern decreases dwell time 23% with PSR transition underway

The railroad touted the early work it has done to streamline its network while making clear that the bulk of the work to drastically increase the railroad's efficiency and reliability is yet to come. 

By Emma Cosgrove • April 25, 2019

Canadian Pacific 'encouraged' by PSR adoption in US

The hallmarks of PSR, such as schedule reliability and train velocity, benefit shippers and railroads beyond a single network and ultimately create additional capacity, said CEO Keith Creel.

By Emma Cosgrove • April 24, 2019

Union Pacific completes first of 3 PSR transition stages

The railroad is still "refining" its schedule and changes could still be "significant," said executives. 

By Emma Cosgrove • April 22, 2019

Kansas City Southern: PSR transition will benefit customers

The customer-focused messaging from KCS comes after other railroads' transitions to PSR that caused an uproar due to service changes and poor communication. 

By Emma Cosgrove • April 18, 2019

CSX posts decline in intermodal revenue after lane cuts

Executives said the railroad's current focus was not on volume growth, but on profitable growth.

By Emma Cosgrove • April 17, 2019

Freight associations warn White House about border slowdown consequences

A letter from 18 associations warns restricting the flow of goods at the U.S.-Mexico border will "inflict significant harm to our nation’s economy and the millions of American jobs that depend on cross-border trade."

By Emma Cosgrove • April 8, 2019

Canadian National acquires trucking firm TransX

The deal represents a change in strategy for the railroad and a move toward a seamless, vertically-integrated service offering for shippers.

By Emma Cosgrove • March 26, 2019

Weather or trade? Cause of rail volume dip 'impossible to know'

Intermodal shipments, though not immune to the forces that stifle rail traffic, are proving to be less susceptible, even as their prolific rise of 2018 subsides.

By Emma Cosgrove • March 18, 2019

Walmart stands up container fleet, uses drivers for drayage

The retailer has been pleasantly surprised by the extra efficiency gained by taking more control of intermodal loads.

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 15, 2019

BNSF boosts spending with eyes on intermodal

Work will focus on BNSF's Northern and Southern Transcon routes, connecting Southern California with Chicago and the Pacific Northwest to Upper Midwest respectively — key routes for intermodal traffic. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 15, 2019

Union Pacific to cut 250 employees, citing PSR

Another 450 employees have been furloughed in an effort to cut costs as the company reduces locomotives and leans out. 

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 14, 2019

Norfolk Southern lays out dramatic transition to PSR

It plans to reach full PSR implementation by 2021 and acknowledges some customers could be shed along the way. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 12, 2019