Tratics Rail Rate Blog
Owning vs. Leasing Freight Cars
Rail shippers frequently face a critical decision: whether to own or lease freight cars. This is a complex decision that is influenced by factors such as need for operational control, financial considerations, and long-term business commitment. In the North American railcar fleet, currently over 60% of all cars are leased or owned by entities other than the railroads themselves. This statistic underscores the significant role that leasing and ownership play in the logistics and transportation industries.
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Shortline Railroads: A Customer-Friendly Transportation Solution for Rail Shippers
In our previous blog on Shortlines, we covered some of the reasons why Class I railroads often “shortline” sections of their rail tracks. The big railroads do this in some cases by selling or leasing tracks to third party operators. If you are a shipper, you might ask: Why should I care? How does it impact me when a Class I railroad ‘shortlines’ a certain section of their track?
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Why Class I Railroads Choose to Sell or Lease Tracks to Shortline Railroads
In the second post in our series on Shortline railroads, we discuss the reasons behind Class I railroads decisions to sell or lease sections of their rail tracks to Shortlines. This type of move is driven by a combination of economic, operational, and strategic factors. In this article, we'll delve into the details of such actions and explore how it benefits all parties involved.
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Shortline Railroads: What Are They, Their Brief History and Important Role Logistics
Railroads are the backbone of freight transportation. While Class I railroads often steal the spotlight, a network of smaller, yet equally vital players operate behind the scenes. These are the shortlines railroads, the lesser-known cousins of the big railroads. Shortlines are often referred to by their official governmental classification as Class II or Class III carriers. For our blog, we will refer to all non-Class I carriers as Shortlines. In this blog post, we'll explore what shortlines are, provide a brief history, and uncover the pivotal role they play in rail logistics.
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Understanding the Surface Transportation Board (STB) informal dispute resolution services
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is an independent federal agency tasked with the economic regulation of the freight rail industry. It ensures that the freight rail system operates efficiently, competitively, and transparently, benefiting shippers, railroads, and the broader public. Established in 1996 as the successor to the Interstate Commerce Commission, the STB oversees rate reasonableness, railroad mergers, rail line acquisitions, new rail-line construction, and the abandonment of existing rail lines. Its mandate is to resolve disputes and maintain a competitive rail system, as a crucial industry that helps move the U.S. economy.
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Optimizing Freight Shipping with Tratics: Rail vs. Truck Comparison
Transporting dry and liquid commodities happens in the form of truck, rail, barge, ocean, and pipeline shipping options. While some shippers benefit from the significant cost savings of barge, ocean, and pipeline transport, these modes are limited in their geographic reach. The majority of shippers rely on trucks, rail, or a combination of the two. At Tratics, we understand the intricacies of these transportation modes and aim to help you optimize your shipping strategy to minimize your shipping costs.
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The STB’s finalizes the new Reciprocal Switching Rules
At the end of April, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) issued the final Rule on new procedures and requirements for prescribed reciprocal switching for rail shippers. The STB's decision to implement reciprocal switching agreements aims to enhance rail service quality. Several Class I railroads have asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to review the STB’s decision.
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A Decade in Review: The Evolving Landscape of Railroad Safety
As we continue our exploration of freight railroad transportation safety in the United States, we want to take a step back and review the last decade. This period has been significant in terms of advancements, challenges, and overall progress in railroad safety.
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Innovating and Overcoming Challenges: The Future of Freight Railroad Safety
This is the third blog from our series on freight railroad transportation safety in the U.S. Today, we discuss two critical aspects of railroad safety: the innovative technologies driving safety forward and the ongoing challenges and developments shaping the future of this sector.
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Safety Regulations for Railroads: The Role of the FRA and Other Agencies
In our new post, we introduce the role of various agencies, led by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), to ensure the safety of railroads across the U.S.
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