According to two rail service reports, rail service has improved since the service meltdowns seen in the first half of 2022, but more work is needed to return Metrics for rail service are still lacking to pre-pandemic levels.
According to a report released Thursday, 78% of ACC members said rail service in H2 2022 was the same or worse than in H1 2022.
The ACC reported that 48% of respondents saw conditions unchanged, and 30% felt they worsened since H1 2022. The remaining 22% believed rail service had improved. The report used findings that from a January 2023 survey of 76 chemical manufacturers.
Approximately 81% of the respondents reported longer transit times, while the 67% reported missed switches. Fifty-one percent reported increased demurrage charges, while 64% reported reduced service days and 63% reported higher rates.
In 2022, 62% of respondents faced rail service embargoes, with three-quarters finding them ineffective for congestion or supply chain issues. The ACC report indicates embargoes worsened supply chain problems and led companies to use less effective transport options.
To improve rail service, the group urged standardized first-mile/last-mile reporting and supported reciprocal switching to enhance shipping options and competition.
The report is available here, and it also tracks trucking and maritime service in the second half of 2022.
Grain carloads have decreased, but the USDA reports mixed service metrics
The Agricultural Marketing Service found mixed rail service metrics for the first quarter of 2023.
The “Grain Transportation Report” released Thursday shows a decline in grain carloads since late January due to record snow and rain. This drop in traffic has improved service and significantly reduced unfilled orders for empty grain cars.
Despite progress, the report highlights ongoing issues such as long grain origin dwell times and a high number of cars idle for over 48 hours.
