Rail/Intermodal: Service remains high, investment still strong
While the rail and intermodal sectors had been enjoying steady growth over the past few years, these vital sectors have not been immune to the freight slowdown being felt on the highways, in the air, and on the high seas over the course of 2016. In fact, that’s been made clear with the declining volumes on a year-to-date basis for freight rail, with intermodal following suit.
Latest Logistics News
Four U.S. railroads file challenges against FRA’s two-person crew mandate, says report U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are mixed, for week ending April 6, reports AAR LM Podcast Series: Examining the freight railroad and intermodal markets with Tony Hatch Norfolk Southern announces preliminary $600 million agreement focused on settling East Palestine derailment lawsuit Railway Supply Institute files petition with Surface Transportation Board over looming ‘boxcar cliff’ More Rail & IntermodalAs group news editor Jeff Berman has reported, through the end of May, Association of American Railroads (AAR) data show that domestic carload volumes were down 13.6% annually, while the weekly average carload for May was off 10.3% annually—the third lowest on record behind March 2016 and April 2016.
On the intermodal front through May, intermodal container and trailer volumes are off 1.3%, with intermodal units regularly outpacing rail carload volumes, something that never happened prior to May 2015.
However, since more and more shippers have found strategic ways to integrate rail intermodal into their logistics operations, we’ll most likely see those volumes begin to tick up over the course of the next six months as inventories dwindle and the economy begins its slow ascent.
And while volumes may be “soft,” readers of Logistics Management tell us that these 10 service providers have been delivering world-class service over the past 12 months and are worthy to walk way with Quest for Quality gold as a result.
In the Rail/Intermodal Service Provider category this year we find four winners posting scores above the 46.11 weighted average. Putting up top marks in 2016 is CSX Transportation Intermodal with a score of 48.80. CSX lead the way in Information Technology (8.50), Customer Service (9.47) and Equipment & Operations (9.59). BNSF Railway pulled in first in On-time Performance (11.61), while Florida East Coast Railway scored best in Value (11.54).
In this year’s Intermodal Marketing Companies category, JB Hunt Intermodal chugs away with top spot (47.69), scoring big in On-time Performance (11.01) and Equipment & Operations (9.29). Matson Logistic and Clipper Express both scored a criteria-high score of 10.95 in Value, while Schneider Intermodal Services lead the way in Information Technology (8.18) and
Customer Service (9.24).
2016 Quest for Quality Winners Categories NATIONAL LTL | REGIONAL LTL | TRUCKLOAD | RAIL/INTERMODAL | OCEAN CARRIERS | PORTS | 3PL | AIR CARRIERS and FREIGHT FORWARDERS |  home page |
Article Topics
Rail & Intermodal News & Resources
Four U.S. railroads file challenges against FRA’s two-person crew mandate, says report U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes are mixed, for week ending April 6, reports AAR LM Podcast Series: Examining the freight railroad and intermodal markets with Tony Hatch Norfolk Southern announces preliminary $600 million agreement focused on settling East Palestine derailment lawsuit Railway Supply Institute files petition with Surface Transportation Board over looming ‘boxcar cliff’ U.S. March rail carload and intermodal volumes are mixed, reports AAR Federal Railroad Administration issues final rule on train crew size safety requirements More Rail & IntermodalLatest in Logistics
LM Podcast Series: Assessing the freight transportation and logistics markets with Tom Nightingale, AFS Logistics Investor expectations continue to influence supply chain decision-making The Next Big Steps in Supply Chain Digitalization Warehouse/DC Automation & Technology: Time to gain a competitive advantage The Ultimate WMS Checklist: Find the Perfect Fit Under-21 driver pilot program a bust with fleets as FMCSA seeks changes Diesel back over $4 a gallon; Mideast tensions, other worries cited More LogisticsSubscribe to Logistics Management Magazine
Find out what the world's most innovative companies are doing to improve productivity in their plants and distribution centers.
Start your FREE subscription today.
April 2023 Logistics Management
Latest Resources
