GLG News by Rail Shipping Service Experts

The Caterpillar / Navistar rumors were finally put to rest last week. There will be few short-term implications and surprises, but the longer-term stage for truck and engine makers is much clearer now. Cat will not totally exit the on-highway market as some thought, but will only be offered in a different...

Many in business and fellow consumers around the world look to their governments to help ease the impact of the record high fuel prices. Many try to pinpoint and then demonize the culprit in the system or process, but like many things it’s a combination of issues. Others are doing something about it...

Overlooking the author’s tendency for hyperbole and his greatly distorted timeline of history, his conclusion that demand for new coal cars will soon return is right on target. He is also right in highlighting the current danger to those builders who might be exposed to fixed price contracts and escalating...

The auto hauling segment has been on a rough road. It will continue, especially on the new vehicle side. Used (cheaper) car sales are not hit as badly. The excess hauling capacity will be slow in recovering for a number of reasons. My colleague Mr. Schultz offers a good prognosis of Performance Transportation...

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters called a strike affecting 1,250 workers at car hauler Performance Transportation Services. The walkout covers 24 plant sites, ports and rail heads in 15 states. The job action was called after the company imposed an emergency 15 percent pay cut granted by a...

CO2 sequestration is hampered by the lack of a coherent energy policy in the US.   CO2 sequestration poses a threat of CO2 break-out from the sequestration basin, which carries a substantial potential liability for the company ordering the sequestration. Without a federal insurance or...

The in Forbes article about the large number of surplus railcars, the author incorrectly blames the railroad companies for stocking up on ethanol cars until the “ethanol bubble burst” and they realized they had built too many cars. In truth, railcar leasing companies ordered the cars after hearing requests...

There will be winners and losers the Los Angeles / Long Beach ports emission rules. A couple potential winning segments that do seem clear are forward-thinking financiers of compliant trucks or fleets offering lease-financing programs with the same. Also, watch how others look for ways to keep fixed...

  UPS's decision to haul domestic air shipments for rival DHL between airports in North America is another strategic move by the world's largest package delivery company to consolidate air lifts from what once were major competitors.   UPS has a similar agreement in place with the U.S. Postal...

Trucking company failures have accelerated to a point where year-over-year bankruptcy numbers have doubled. We then must add in those who have shut down or just parked their equipment. The primary issues are freight rates plus fuel surcharge versus real fuel costs. That problem continues with both the...