Archive for May 2020

(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, May 27, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged this country during the past 10 weeks, taking the lives of some 100,000 Americans and jeopardizing the health of millions more. But a deeper dive into those statistics find that people of color – African Americans, Latinos and…

(Source: Supply Chain Dive, May 27, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Union Pacific’s volume has fallen 23% so far in the second quarter as a result of the “ongoing economic impact of COVID-19,” the company’s CFO Jennifer Hamann said last week during the 13th Annual Wolfe Virtual Global Transportation & Industrials Conference. “It is unlikely we…

(Source: Freight Waves, May 27, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Although U.S. rail traffic is still sharply lower compared with the same period in 2019, rail volumes for intermodal and commodities such as motor vehicles and grain are higher sequentially on a weekly basis, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Full story: Freight Waves Thursday,…

CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 27, 2020 — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) extended safety waivers granted to the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic recently, again favoring the material concerns of the carriers over the safety of America’s rail…

(Source: Washington Post, May 26, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak says it needs nearly $1.5 billion in supplemental funding from the federal government to maintain “minimum service levels,” anticipating ridership will not recover to pre-pandemic levels in fiscal 2021. Full story: Laredo Morning Times Wednesday, May 27, 2020