Rail Freight Growth Trends
Our innovative railcar mover is designed to operate dependably through a wide range of conditions. No matter what changes in the rail industry, you can count on our mover for reliable service.
The past few years have been a time of flux in the rail industry, and 2018 is no exception. Here’s a look at the current trends affecting rail.
Increased Traffic
Declining rail traffic led to its second-lowest total of revenue ton-miles in 2016. But by June 2017, both Class 1 freight and regional railroad volume were showing significant year-over-year growth.
High Demand for Coal Transport
Lower stockpiles, reduced days of burn and higher temperatures combined to drive up the demand for coal at power plants. Coal transport increased by 20 percent over the period of June 2016 to June 2017.
Railroad Stocks on the Rise
Coal exports also increased by 60 percent in 2017, while overall growth in U.S. gross national product (GDP) is driving a greater demand for goods and commodities. As a result, railroad stocks are expected to reap the benefits of these upturns.
Integration of Technology
The rail industry has been behind the curve in adopting cloud computing, Big Data analytics and other high-tech innovations. With costs shrinking as technology matures, more rail companies are investing in these systems.
Transport Management Systems Become the Industry Standard
Early versions of transport management systems (TMS) were too elementary to be cost-effective, but software has progressed to the point where TMS is increasingly seen as a valuable solution.
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