Tratics Rail Rate Blog

Cross-Border Rail Freight in 2026: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities

In 2026, cross-border rail freight continues to play a critical role in North American supply chains. As trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico remains strong, rail offers an efficient way to move goods over long distances while complementing truck and ocean freight. Its capacity, reliability, and sustainability advantages make it a key mode for international shipments. Every day, billions of dollars’ worth of goods cross North American land borders, with surface transportation accounting for the majority of that movement. Rail represents a significant share of this activity, particularly for industries such as automotive, agriculture, energy, and bulk commodities.

How Shippers Can Reduce Rail Freight Costs with Smarter Pricing

Rail freight remains one of the most cost-effective ways to move high-volume goods over long distances especially compared to shipping by truck. But with rising rates and fluctuating fuel costs, complex rate structures, and supply chain bottlenecks, many shippers struggle to keep rail freight expenses under control. The key to savings lies in better visibility, systems that put data to work, and ultimately smarter decisions.

The Tratics 2026 Rail Freight Outlook

If 2025 was the year of "holding the line," 2026 is shaping up to be the year the logistics map is fundamentally rewritten. In the past year, the rail industry avoided the much-feared recession, but growth remained elusive. We saw a cooling job market and weak manufacturing offset by a resilient services sector. For railroads, it was a "mixed bag": intermodal volumes struggled, while bulk commodities like agriculture and energy provided a steady floor.

45 Years of the Staggers Rail Act: Progress and Balance

Understanding Freight Rail Rates: What Shippers Should Know

If you’re stepping into the world of rail logistics, one of the first questions you’ll have is how rail rates actually work. For many new logistics professionals and new shippers, it can feel like a mystery. Rates aren’t just a flat fee, they are shaped by a mix of factors that all come together to determine what you’ll pay. The good news is that once you understand the basics, managing freight costs becomes a lot easier.

How Tratics Delivers Real-Time Rail Pricing for Smarter Freight Decisions

In rail freight logistics, timing and transparency are key. While shipment visibility and routing tools have advanced significantly in recent years, access to reliable, real-time pricing has lagged behind—forcing shippers to frequently make critical decisions based on incomplete data.

Keeping up with the Market: How Tratics' Real-Time Rail Pricing Helps Shippers Move Faster

Speed to market isn’t just important - it’s essential. Opportunities come and go quickly, and shippers need to be able to react just as fast. Whether it’s securing a rate, finding the best applicable rate, choosing the right carrier, or planning around market shifts, having timely cost information can make a significant difference in sales performance. This is where Tratics comes in.

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.

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.

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.