BLET News

(Source: Railway Age, April 15, 2020) NEW YORK — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ended April 11, 2020, and it’s clear that the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc: Total carloads for this week were 198,726 carloads, down 23.8% compared with the same week in 2019; U.S. weekly…

(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, April 15, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following is the official statement of Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa on his appointment to the Great American Economic Revival Industry Group. “It is important that working people have a voice as our nation works to find a way through the…

(Source: S&P Global Platts, April 15, 2020) HOUSTON — US coal carload originations fell to a 10-year low of 52,468 in the week ended April 11, down 8.8% from 57,504 a week earlier and 36.1% lower than the year-ago week, the Association of American Railroads said Wednesday. Full story: S&P Global Platts Thursday, April 16, 2020

(Source: Freight Waves, April 14, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — U.S. rail volumes for grain are facing ongoing headwinds in both the international and domestic markets, with factors such as a strong U.S. dollar and competition from other grain-producing countries weighing on export-bound volumes, while the coronavirus pandemic is putting pressure on domestic volumes, according to…

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, April 14 — BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce will discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Rail Labor and the railroad industry in an interview on the Teamster Nation podcast, which will be aired on Wednesday, April 15. In his role as President of the Teamsters Rail Conference, President Pierce will talk…