John S. James Co.’s Post

#supplychain #transportation How do you revamp a century-old system? There are quite a few industries with roots that go far back. In transportation this is true for every traditional mode. In fact, ground transportation is at least 5,500 years old and began with the invention of the wheel. Of course, old industries sometimes come with baggage. I remember discussions with barge operators where they casually mentioned that a river load can be up to six months late. The same happened in railroads where, I was told years ago, trains can be up to ten days late. It can be hard to let go of certain behaviors and habits. We seen how hard in the recent East Coast port labor negotiations, which fought tooth and nail against technology. The situation seems stable, but don't let that fool anyone into thinking it'll stay that way forever. Speaking of forever, rail operator BNSF recently caved to investor pressure to make sweeping changes to their scheduling and processes. The company has the worst operating ration (68.2%) among class 1 railroads. Management brought in an expert on precision scheduling, which focuses on efficiency. Operators run tighter schedules, build longer trains, run mixed commodities, reduce empty hauls, limit dwell time, and balance their network better. Sounds reasonable, doesn't it? "Reasonable" naturally draws ire from proponents of safety, service and labor protections. Critics of precision scheduling say that things will spiral downwards and there is is some truth to it. What they don't say is that things always sort themselves out. You can't outrun progress, and it's great to see that one of the last major holdouts in rail is coming around. #truckl #innovation

#supplychain #transportation How do you revamp a century-old system? There are quite a few industries with roots that go far back. In transportation this is true for every traditional mode. In fact, ground transportation is at least 5,500 years old and began with the invention of the wheel. Of course, old industries sometimes come with baggage. I remember discussions with barge operators where they casually mentioned that a river load can be up to six months late. The same happened in railroads where, I was told years ago, trains can be up to ten days late. It can be hard to let go of certain behaviors and habits. We seen how hard in the recent East Coast port labor negotiations, which fought tooth and nail against technology. The situation seems stable, but don't let that fool anyone into thinking it'll stay that way forever. Speaking of forever, rail operator BNSF recently caved to investor pressure to make sweeping changes to their scheduling and processes. The company has the worst operating ration (68.2%) among class 1 railroads. Management brought in an expert on precision scheduling, which focuses on efficiency. Operators run tighter schedules, build longer trains, run mixed commodities, reduce empty hauls, limit dwell time, and balance their network better. Sounds reasonable, doesn't it? "Reasonable" naturally draws ire from proponents of safety, service and labor protections. Critics of precision scheduling say that things will spiral downwards and there is is some truth to it. What they don't say is that things always sort themselves out. You can't outrun progress, and it's great to see that one of the last major holdouts in rail is coming around. #truckl #innovation

📢 Breaking News: SC Ports Expanding Rail Capacity to Support Port-Dependent Businesses South Carolina Ports is making strategic investments in rail capacity across South Carolina to efficiently handle goods for the state’s booming economy. The future Navy Base Intermodal Facility in North Charleston, opening in July 2025, will be equipped with six rail-mounted gantry cranes, streamlining container movement between CSX and Norfolk Southern trains. This expansion directly benefits our clients and prospects, ensuring swift goods transportation to market. As John S. James Co., a trusted U.S. Customs Broker and Freight Forwarder, we’re poised to address any shipping process challenges highlighted in the article. Read the full article by the highly respected industry media publication, American Journal of Transportation, and discover how our services at johnsjames.com can create new client opportunities. #SupplyChain #Logistics #RailCapacity #SouthCarolina #ShippingOpportunities #TomorrowIsHere #Imports #Exports #Rail

🚂📈 U.S. rail traffic is on a roll! For the third straight week, rail volume surged, with a 8.4% boost in the week ending Aug. 31 compared to last year. Containers and trailers led the charge, jumping 15.3%! 🚛 Year-to-date, overall rail traffic is up 3.1%, thanks to strong intermodal gains. North America is seeing similar growth, with a 5.2% increase. As railways continue to pick up steam, it’s clear the logistics world is moving fast! 🚄💼 #RailTraffic #Logistics #SupplyChain #Intermodal #Transportation #Freight Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ewHCyTTd

West Coast rail operations are facing congestion due to spiking port volumes, leading to longer dwell times. Shippers may need to consider alternative transport options to navigate delays. Rail operators like BNSF and Union Pacific are working on increasing capacity and fluidity to address these challenges. https://okt.to/b38UZ2

Why U.S. railroads are seeing intermodal growth through first half of 2024: Analysis https://lnkd.in/eeXuueRF

West Coast rail operations are facing congestion due to spiking port volumes, leading to longer dwell times. Shippers may need to consider alternative transport options to navigate delays. Rail operators like BNSF and Union Pacific are working on increasing capacity and fluidity to address these challenges. https://okt.to/0p6LiK

West Coast rail operations are facing congestion due to spiking port volumes, leading to longer dwell times. Shippers may need to consider alternative transport options to navigate delays. Rail operators like BNSF and Union Pacific are working on increasing capacity and fluidity to address these challenges. https://okt.to/xKtHni

West Coast rail operations are facing congestion due to spiking port volumes, leading to longer dwell times. Shippers may need to consider alternative transport options to navigate delays. Rail operators like BNSF and Union Pacific are working on increasing capacity and fluidity to address these challenges. https://okt.to/W5KFQZ

West Coast rail operations are facing congestion due to spiking port volumes, leading to longer dwell times. Shippers may need to consider alternative transport options to navigate delays. Rail operators like BNSF and Union Pacific are working on increasing capacity and fluidity to address these challenges. https://okt.to/L8VWTC