Intermodal

Jacksonville-based Class I railroad carrier CSX Corp. said today that Steve Angel was named as its new President and Chief Executive Office by the company’s Board of Directors, effective September 28. Angel will replaced previous president and CEO Joe Hinrichs, whom has departed the company and had been with CSX for three years, joining the company in September 2022.

Rail carloads, at 228,609, fell 1.8% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 282,068 units, were off 2.5% annually.

Echo said its Mexico services include options for dry van, temperature-controlled shipping, flatbed, LTL, intermodal, and managed transportation. And it added that with its integrated cross-border transportation technology and a team of bilingual experts, Echo provides shippers with what it called a seamless experience for navigating trade and customs regulations.

Total August volume, at 1,610,997 units, increased 1.6% annually, below the 4.4% annual gain seen in July, which saw higher volumes due to the pulling-forward of goods being imported during the previous pause on the White House’s reciprocal tariffs.

The prospects of the proposed Class I rail carrier merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern appear to be closer to coming to fruition are picking up steam.

The August shipments reading, at 1.017, fell 9.3% annually and was down 1.5% compared to July. And the August expenditures reading, at 3.135, fell 0.4% annually and were down 2.8%, from July to August.

U.S. rail carloads, at 231,237, were off 0.5% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 282,930, decreased 2.6% annually.

August U.S. rail carloads were up 0.7% annually, for its sixth straight month of annual gains, and August intermodal volume, headed up 0.5% annually, with average weekly intermodal volume, at 284,316, coming in at the highest level, for any month, going back to May 2021, as well as highest August reading since 2018.

Rail carloads, at 214,383, fell 3.5% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 253,497 units, were off 1.4%.

The report observed that truckload (TL) activity accounted for 72% of second quarter broker activity, followed by Miscellaneous (which includes ocean, air, warehousing, and special services), at 14%, less-than-truckload (LTL), at 11%, and intermodal, at 3%.

The companies said that this service will give shippers what it called a “seamless, all-rail alternative for international containers” going from Canada’s West Coast gateways through Memphis and then into Nashville. And they added that by replacing the current trucking leg with a steel-wheel interchange, both carriers will be able to deliver faster, more reliable, and more sustainable supply chain offerings for their respective customers.

Logistics Management Group News Editor Jeff Berman spoke with Chris Jahn, President & Chief Executive Officer, at the Washington, D.C.-based American Chemistry Council (ACC). Topics covered included: the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger; railroad service and pricing; and the regulatory environment, among others.

Rail carloads, at 234,740, eked out a 0.6% annual gain, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 286,762 units, headed up 1.2% annually.

LM Group News Editor spoke with Larry Gross, President of Gross Transportation Consulting, on the state of the intermodal market.

CSX and BNSF officials said that these new intermodal services will provide immediate value for customers in various ways, including increasing flexibility and optionality, while delivering integrated service for freight moving across the U.S.