Category Archives: Rail

Here is an example of a 3PL taking the lead in establishing a supply chain corridor. They appear to have done it in Mexico by a relation with the large terminal in Toluca, MX (near Mexico City).    Four commodities, peat moss, pet food, soybean flour, and cream substitutes, can be moved in this manner.  the commodities can originate in Canada or the US.   I;m sure there was lots of cooperation with government and customs agencies, but it’s a wonder what can be done in supply chain integration by involving others and by using the power of information.

By streamlining the cross-border clearance and inspection service, there are fewer hand-offs in the process while saving intermodal shippers transit time and money.

Source: Schneider Rolls Out Intermodal Cross Border Pilot – Supply Chain 24/7

So rail is asking for re-regulation?  Give me a break.  When things get tough they simply want government relief.

This article authored by Jeff Berman is interesting, and even more so taken with others in the issue.  Those talk about how the balance between long haul trucking and intermodal may be shifting.  Trucking costs are going up, and folks are shifting to intermodal.  This places a greater load on the rail network, and since rails don’t make the money on intermodal that they do on commodities, they are wary of making capital investments to speed up intermodal flows.  Are higher regulated rates the answer?  I doubt it.

2015 State of Logistics Rail/Intermodal: Still on track, but not immune to challenges – Article from Logistics Management.