Topic: Rail & Intermodal

The impetus for this planned action, Trump said, was due to China taking what he described as an extraordinarily aggressive position on trade, in the form of imposing large scale export controls on nearly every product made in China and some not made in China, including rare earth minerals.

A session at this week’s Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) EDGE conference in National Harbor, Maryland addressed various aspects related to the current state of the freight market, including the impact of various freight recessions, above-average inventory levels despite efforts to reduce them, the importance of maintaining shipper-provider relationships, as well the impact of tariffs, and other topics.

U.S. rail carloads, at 224,972, eked out a 0.002% annual increase, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 278,566 units, rose 6.7% annually.

A panel of industry experts across different areas of the supply chain provided a detailed overview of market trends and themes this week in a session at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) EDGE annual conference, which was held in National Harbor, Maryland.

As global trade has seen significant shifts in a short time across 2025, coupled with the ongoing need for supply chains to build resilience and speed and become ever more agile, the role of the supply chain has subsequently evolved to being able to respond in short order to various things.

The 15th Annual Rail/Intermodal Roundtable examines the current state of the U.S. rail and intermodal markets, highlighting modest carload growth, improving service levels, and the ongoing impact of tariffs, truck competition, and emerging technology. Experts also weigh in on the potential Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, forecasting that regulatory review and broader economic conditions will shape service, pricing, and growth opportunities over the next several years.

The October cover story highlights rail and intermodal transportation, showing how technology and emerging AI are improving network efficiency, service levels, and visibility for long-haul, high-volume shipments. The column also previews the 2025 Supply Chain Outlook Virtual Summit, where MIT’s Matthias Winkenbach will explain how AI is transforming logistics decision-making and creating smarter, more resilient supply chains.

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.

White House imposes steep tariffs on trucks, furniture, and pharmaceuticals as legal challenge to trade powers looms

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 deal strengthens CMA CGM’s position in the UK railroad market and helps it shift more cargo from road to rail.

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.

A letter sent this week by the Rail Customer Coalition (RCC), a concern comprised of trade associations representing the manufacturing, energy, and agricultural industries reliant on railroads, to the leadership at the Surface Transportation Board (STB), an independent adjudicatory and economic-regulatory agency charged by Congress with resolving railroad rate and service disputes and reviewing proposed railroad mergers, laid out various concerns and reservations that RCC has in regards to the proposed merger between Class I railroad carriers Union Pacific and...

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.

The plan also covers steel, textiles, and around 1,400 other products from countries without trade agreements.

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