Rail

By Staff -- Logistics Management, 10/1/1999

Intermodal rail rates dropped 0.1% from July to August, but remained up 0.7% from August 1998 levels. By contrast, non-trailer-on-flatcar rail rates in August were down 0.1% from July numbers and down 1.1% from year-ago levels. Until information-system kinks are worked out and disruptions from the recent Conrail carve-up end, rail rates are unlikely to rise very fast. In the final three months of 1999, rates are forecast to rise a slight 0.9%. Higher rates to haul lumber as well as pulp and paper may help push overall rates up.

% CHANGE VS.:1 month ago6 mos. ago1 yr. ago

Coal/Petroleum 0.0 +0.1 +1.0

Chemicals 0.0 +0.1 -1.4

Farm products 0.0 -0.2 -2.8

Motor vehicles 0.0 0.0 0.0

Metallic ores -2.8 -2.8 -1.5