Gross Transportation Consulting

Following yesterday’s bridge collision in Baltimore, when the 32,000-ton container ship, Dali, collided into the 1.6-mile Francis Scott Key bridge over the Patapsco River in Baltimore, causing it to collapse and stopping ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, for an indefinite period, it has created yet another uncertain situation for supply chains.

Our annual gathering of freight transportation industry analysts reveals that the cycle of rate and capacity fluctuations continue their age-old volatility, but in a more muted fashion. Here’s a look at the elements that have ushered in this current malaise.

Three of the nation’s top market analysts examine the current state of the freight railroad and intermodal markets, including a look at pricing, service levels, ompetition with other modes, and the slow—but steady—implementation of automation.

Three of the nation’s top market analysts examine the current state of the freight railroad and intermodal markets, including a look at pricing, service levels and competition with other modes.

“Anytime the supply chain is on ’60 Minutes' or the front page of the Washington Post, it is probably not because we are doing such a great job. Certainly, intermodal has had a very difficult 2021 so far.” Those were the opening comments made by Larry Gross, president of Gross Transportation Consulting, at the RailTrends conference hosted by Progressive Railroading magazine and independent railroad analyst Tony Hatch last month.