Canadian National begins “disciplined and progressive” shutdown of eastern network and plans to halt all transcontinental service in response to anti-pipeline protests as impact hits intermodal carriers.
Protestors’ actions to block rail routes are causing major supply chain disruptions, they say.
Demonstrators say their actions, which have blocked rail lines and access to several Canadian ports, are in support of a First Nations group’s concerns over a proposed pipeline.
The C$15 million federal investment aims to reduce bottlenecks and facilitate export capabilities in a region of Alberta known for its chemical, petrochemical, and oil and gas output.
Members overwhelmingly ratified the agreement with Canadian National. The collective agreement will last through July 2022.
Recent trade developments should help rail volumes improve, particularly in the second half of 2020, executives said.
The railway cited the labor strike and weak freight demand in lower fourth-quarter profits.
Organizations may lobby Parliament to declare rail service an essential service so that access remains available during events such as labor strikes.
The railway will work with NorFalco Sales, a division of Glencore Canada, to handle sulfuric acid volumes at facilities in Ontario and Quebec.
Lower rail volumes, an active Surface Transportation Board and a strike were among the key events that the U.S. and Canadian freight rail industry experienced this year.
Canadian National reports operations have returned to “normalized” levels after an eight-day work stoppage.
Proposal providing relief for shippers could be rolled out next year.
Canadian National’s grain shipments gain momentum with eight-day strike in the rearview.
Several management teams from North America’s largest Class I railroads were on hand to discuss current demand, their networks and the future at the Credit Suisse 7th Annual Industrials Conference.
Teck Resources opts not to renew 10-year deal for the transport of metallurgical coal.
CNl estimates eight-day disruption will trim C$0.15 per share from profits as CEO assures that recovery plan is “delivering results.”
Canadian SONAR data show that trucks helped fill the void as rail capacity left the market – and then got a nice bump as it returned.
North American Class I carloads increased year-over-year in week 47 on a favorable comp. The prior four-week average remains weak.
CN CEO said railway is focusing on safety as it resumes normal operations after eight-day strike that rippled across Canada’s rail supply chain.
Normal rail service to resume on Nov. 27, ending a week-long strike that has shaken Canada’s supply chain.
Federal Minister of Agriculture suggests government would consider back-to-work legislation or binding arbitration for striking Teamsters members as disruption brings 37% in drop in Canadian National revenue ton-miles and worsening supply-chain conditions across the country.
The bill introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) would allow Amtrak to sue freight railroads for not giving Amtrak preference on freight rail-owned track.
Rail executives discussed short-term strategies for growing rail volumes amid expectations that volumes won’t pick up until well into 2020.
Federal Emergency Management Agency’s advisory board recommends a pilot of the blockchain-based registry to ultimately improve claim processes and disaster responses.
Transport Minister Marc Garneau insists that a deal between Candian National and Teamsters offers the best way to get trains moving again as walkout by 3,200 workers hits Canada’s supply chain and threatens the economy.
The strike, coupled with and trade uncertainty, could hit businesses hard, groups say.
The railway is confident that the momentum to deploy technology initiatives will continue.
Ferrero USA, best known for being the maker of Nutella and Tic Tac, will deploy FourKites’ predictive supply chain technology for greater insight into its freight movements. Also, Canadian National workers strike and a Montana truck driver’s employer gives him a gift of a lifetime.
Federal minister urges Canadian National and Teamsters to reach agreement as walkout by 3,200 conductors, transpersons and yard workers continues.
Talks have been ongoing for seven months. Staffing levels appear to be a key issue.
The railway cited challenging economic headwinds and could release up to 1,600 employees.
Railway rebounds after slow start in August and September.
Ontario Trucking Association lauds crackdown by province’s workers’ compensation agency on companies that skirt payroll deductions by misclassifying drivers. But the OTA calls on Canada’s federal government to do more.
Canadian province will allow producers to exceed limits exclusively for rail shipments to meet higher demand.
Freight railroads need push to ensure Amtrak’s trains are on time, Durbin says.
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference could go on strike as early as Nov. 19 should talks deteriorate with Canadian National.
Despite lowering its operating ratio, the railroad tempers its 2019 outlook.
Now Goldman thinks that ISM data won’t turn positive until Q2 2020.
Reports have been surfacing that the Alberta government could grant more crude-by-rail contracts.
Unionized Canadian drivers for CNTL approve four-year agreement that increases rates for wait times and mileage.
The railway grappled with not only the potential for cold temperatures but also macro uncertainty in crafting plan.
The Canadian class I railroads outlined a number of growth opportunities at an investor conference. Intermodal capacity expansion at the ports and grain delays provided the big takeaways.
Norfolk Southern announced that Claude Mongeau has been elected as a director. The former Canadian National Railway head may be viewed as an effort to improve PSR initiatives or to explore potential opportunities to partner with other Class I railroads.
Millions in private and public funding are going toward the two western Canadian ports.
Grain shippers wonder if the Canadian railways will keep up with demand in the 2019-20 crop year.
Slumping coal demand, trade wars and a competitive truck market are weighing on rail volumes for the remainder of the year.
The line serves communities in western New York and eastern Canada near the St. Lawrence River.
CSX and Canadian National’s partnership to create new intermodal service between Montreal and Toronto and the greater New York City area is a strategy to expand each other’s geographical reach and compete with the long-haul trucking market.
The record occurred despite extreme weather conditions that stymied rail shipments in February and March, as well as restrictions on Canadian canola exports to China, the railway said.
Grain shippers say Congress should take a “fresh look” at railroad policy.
There is some uncertainty for commodities such as grain, lumber, coal and crude, but Canadian National (NYSE: CNI) leaders are “cautiously optimistic” about volumes and how the company might perform in the second half of the year.
Canadian National (NYSE: CNI) reported increases in net profit and revenue in the second quarter of 2019, with its acquisition of trucking and transportation provider TransX providing both higher revenue and costs.
Canadian National announced record western Canadian grain shipments and a C$210 million investment to support exports.
Continental and Leia are working on a 3D instrument display that brings to life the vehicle and its surroundings.
Nearly C$50 million from the Canadian government will allow more cargo to move between terminals via rail, while rerouting rigs away from eastern city’s downtown.
Canadian National’s (NYSE: CNI) strategy to build up its eastern network could include even more partnerships with trucking and intermodal partners, the company’s chief executive officer said at an investor conference.
FreightWaves market expert Jim Blaze looks at a regulatory spat between Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway over the concept of “open access.” Learn why that is important to all railroads – and shippers!
A Canadian National (NYSE: CNI) subsidiary has acquired the intermodal assets of Alberta-based H&R Transport, a company that specializes in the over-the-road, temperature-controlled service. The acquisition will expand CN’s presence […]
Canadian Pacific (NYSE: CP) and Canadian National (NYSE: CNI) both moved record volumes of grain in April, following a harsh winter that sometimes curtailed rail shipments. Canadian National said on […]
Canadian National Railway Company reported adjusted earnings per share of C$1.17 per share for the first quarter 2019, 17 percent better than the same period a year ago.
Canadian National (NYSE: CNI) plans to appeal a determination by a federal regulator that the railway breached rail service obligations last fall at the congestion-prone Port of Vancouver.
Canadian National (NYSE: CNI) yesterday unveiled plans to invest US$505 million in capital projects along its U.S. corridor spanning from Wisconsin to Louisiana.
Precision scheduled railroading (PSR) could benefit customers and shippers, but its deployment pace and how shippers respond to changes will be key to its success, panelists said today at the North East Association of Rail Shippers conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
Canadian National (NYSE: CNI) laid out plans to invest C$615 million this year in network infrastructure in eastern Canada amid wider efforts by stakeholders to revamp Canada’s transportation infrastructure and support the nation’s export markets.
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) is seeking public comments on amendments to regulations that govern the rail rates that Canadian National and Canadian Pacific set for hauling grain in western Canada.
Canadian National (CNR) finalized its acquisition of trucking and transportation provider TransX, months after announcing plans to purchase the company.
NS invokes precision scheduled railroading as its seeks to match peer performance and lower its operating ratio.
After first saying in November that operating ratio for the year would be flat, a strong December has enabled it to tick up slightly.
Jim Vena, protege of vaunted rail executive Hunter Harrison, seen as likely helping boost UP’s move to greater efficiency.
China’s imports record strong third quarter with October data also suggesting more goods on the way.
In this final part of the three-part series, the author looks at what steps need to be taken to successfully implement precision railroading.
Canada’s largest railroad boosts intermodal and refrigerated service offering with acquisition of major trucking company.
Precision railroading has worked, but consistent success has been elusive.
Crude-by-rail is big growth driver for quarter as rail remains key outlet for Canadian crude.
The industry clearly is moving in the direction of precision railroading being the “way to go.” Now it’s time to figure out the possibilities and the hurdles.
In his preview of the railroads’ Q3 earnings reports, Susquehanna’s Bascome Majors set optimistic price targets but warned that P/E valuations are at historically high levels.
Howard Green is best on fights between the serial CEO and his boards, activist investors, and proxy wars, but there’s a lot in the book for railroad buffs who want to know more about Harrison’s signature philosophy, precision scheduled railroading.
The debt rating agency sees some drawbacks to the process, but is otherwise strongly in support of the growing trend.
We see falling demand for oil, lumber, and wheat out of Canada in the future due to a combination of market forces. Canadian Pacific Railroad appears to be especially exposed to this freight recession.
The class 1 railroad owned by Berkshire Hathaway had the worst OR of any of the class 1 railroads for the second quarter.
XPO Logistics’ CFO Hardig resigns; Shanghai – Los Angeles container rates spike; watch heavy haulers move SpaceX rockets; Canadian National publishes its first annual ‘Grain Plan’; meet the teen who rides in a self-driving Waymo vehicle every morning.
CN had a strong quarter as it comes out of system problems that stretch back into 2017.
An analyst says the company management is willing to accept “short term pain.”
Used truck prices strengthen; trailer orders go crazy; Arizona suspends Uber self-driving; Canadian National trades at 52-week lows; aftermath of Harvey still affects Houston tanker traffic; Philadelphia freight market is heating up.
After a few disastrous months and a CEO ouster, the interim chief lays out the plan.
