blog main image

The Current Status of Rail Carload that Could Affect the Supply Chain

Every year, the freight transportation cycles fluctuate and outlooks on how successful shippers will be change. Luckily, FTR, transportation intelligence experts have created a forecasting model to provide a more accurate outlook on where trucking, rail, and intermodal are headed.

According to FTR’s Chief Operating Officer, Jonathan Starks commented, “The domestic shipping market is in a relatively stable environment. This may seem counterintuitive given the weakness that we are seeing in the manufacturing sector and the loosening of truck and rail capacity over the last year.”

What Will Happen to Rail Carloads as We Enter a New Era of Freight Transportation?

As the rail outlook appears to be slowing down, FTR’s rail expert analyst Larry Gross will take a closer look of the rail carload activity and how it affects the state of economy. During the State of Freight webinar scheduled for Thursday, March 10th at 11am EDT, Gross will explain reasons for the downturn, cover prospects for improvement and where it might come from, as well as detail what the rails need to do to change the fundamental equation.

How the Rail Slowdown Can Affect the Supply Chain

Former mainstays such as coal and crude-by-rail are flagging and it is not clear from where replacement volume will be gained, according to FTR.
As Gross noted, “The current swoon in rail carloads is presenting the railroads with perhaps the most fundamental challenge since the deregulated era began. While some of the losses represent normal swings in the economy, a substantial portion of the volume has been lost to fundamental structural change and is never coming back. This webinar will explore the issues and what the railroads must do to remain as relevant as ever in the new era.”

For more information on FTR and to register to for webinar, go to ftrintel.com/webinars.

Meet the Author

admin

Leave a Reply

  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • youtube
  • rss
 
MEP_Blog_VitalityQuiz_image
What are your Supply Chain Weaknesses?
Supply Chain Vitality Quiz
 
 
Supply Chain Optimization in the field

"MEP has put together an intelligent program that was well thought out and challenging for supply chain management team. They challenged our supply chain approach and current paradigm – forcing us to take a fresh look at what we do and how we do it. We are using the supply chain strategy tools that they provided as “take-aways” to change how we do things."

 

-Bruce Broxterman, President, Richards Industries

 
 
Would you like to receive MEP Supply Chain Updates?
Sign up for our E-Newsletter
 
Supply Chain Optimization Case Study
Syn Strand Supply Chain Case Study Download Case Study