Tratics Rail Rate Blog
Railcar Fleet Maintenance: Overcoming Challenges and Ensuring Efficiency
Maintaining a railcar fleet involves a range of unique challenges for shippers. This has become even more pronounced in recent years due to global disruptions. The shops that provide repair services have been dealing with workforce shortages and supply chain issues. This has created additional obstacles that impact the speed and efficiency of railcar repairs and fleet maintenance.
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The Freight Railcar Act of 2025
The reintroduction of the Freight Rail Assets Investment to Launch Commercial Activity Revitalization Act (Freight Railcar Act) of 2025 has brought renewed attention to the state of the U.S. freight rail industry. The bill proposes a 10% tax credit for upgrading and expanding the freight railcar fleet. Supporters see it as a necessary step toward US rail fleet modernization and efficiency.
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Top States for Rail Freight in the U.S.: A Comprehensive Analysis
Rail freight plays an indispensable role in the American economy, moving over 10 billion tons of goods and supplies across the country each year. This extensive network of railroads is crucial for the efficient transportation of a vast array of commodities, from raw materials to finished products. The efficiency and effectiveness of this system vary significantly by state, depending on various factors including industrial activity, transportation infrastructure, and geographic location. Here, we explore the states that lead in both loading and receiving rail freight, highlighting their essential contributions to the national supply chain.
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Transloading: What is it and how it can help you transport products in a cost-efficient way
In today’s fast-paced logistics landscape, businesses are constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Transloading has emerged as a cornerstone of modern supply chain strategies, offering a seamless way to transfer goods between different modes of transportation. By combining the cost advantages of rail with the flexibility of trucking, transloading helps businesses extend their reach while maintaining efficiency. This article explores the concept of transloading, its benefits, operational processes, necessary equipment, and essential safety considerations.
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Tratics Continues to Innovate in Rail Logistics: Rail Pricing Transparency Meets SAP
Today we are announcing a pioneering cooperation between Tratics LLC and Synergy Consulting LLC with the purpose of helping North American rail shippers integrate rail rates and all related activities into SAP. This collaboration brings together Tratics' deep expertise in rail pricing transparency with Synergy Consulting’s global leadership in SAP integrations. Together, we aim to redefine rail rate management for rail shippers by creating a seamless integration of rail pricing data into SAP software.
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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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