RSI Blog
What’s happening at RSI Logistics & the latest industry news
Understanding how the railroads price your commodity is a starting point for determining your ability to negotiate rail freight rates. Railroad pricing has been cyclical over the years, fluctuating between public tariffs and private contracts. With the use of differential pricing, the railroads may provide different rates to different shippers in similar lanes. Regardless of […]
Reducing logistics spending can be an uphill battle, especially in the railroad industry. Many areas are served by a small number of carriers, or even just a single carrier. Rail logistics cost reduction strategies become even more challenging with limited negotiating power. However, there are ways to negotiate and reduce rail transportation costs. As you […]
The North East Association of Rail Shippers (NEARS) hosted its annual fall conference remotely September 21, 2020 – Sep 25, 2020. The NEARS 2020 conference consisted of several attendees that represented rail shippers, suppliers, and carriers. This was the first virtual event held by NEARS and proved to be very successful. It was a week-long […]
Railroads will tell you they “price to the market.” But whose market is it, yours or theirs? How many times have you questioned the reasonableness of a rate? How do you currently compare the rate for one lane to the rate in another? How Railroads Price Impacts Their Operating Ratio The railroads always strive to […]
Hurricanes cause more damage than any other type of weather catastrophe. These storms destroy homes and cities, as well as infrastructure. To survive a hurricane, and also to rebuild after the storm, hurricane preparedness for rail shippers is essential. The hurricane season of 2020 has already been intense, and will continue to bring more storms. […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed workplaces and lifestyles across every industry around the globe. Railroad companies are no different. As many employees are working from home or laid off to ensure safe social distancing in the workplace, rail shipping quotes delays and rate increases are appearing more frequently across North America. Are your shipping rate […]
RSI Logistics Inc. (RSI) through its bulk terminal division, RSI Leasing Inc. has opened a new bulk transload facility in Fort Lauderdale, FL that is serviced by the Florida East Coast Railway. The Fort Lauderdale transload facility is positioned to reach local markets in southeast Florida. The terminal is conveniently located 2 miles from the […]
No one likes to pay demurrage and storage. For some shippers demurrage charges are merely a nuisance. For others, demurrage is a seven figure annual expense. Many of our clients have found it to be a cost that can be quickly reduced or eliminated with the proper focus and attention. This article offers a number […]
Did you know that you could get control of your demurrage costs in two steps? First step: Right-size your fleet If you own or lease your equipment, it is important to understand how many railcars you need to ensure that you deliver your product to your customers on time. Many rail shippers lean towards increasing […]
Are the railroads telling you that privately negotiated contract rates are reverting to public tariffs? This may become more prevalent, but that does not mean the railroads have stopped negotiating. Public tariffs have long been in existence, providing easy access to rates with low administrative costs. But over the years, many shippers have been successful […]
Rail transload facilities play a vital role in many companies’ shipping networks. These facilities allow shippers to realize benefits from a combination of rail and truck. Perhaps you’ve used the same transload facilities for some time, and you’re wondering about other opportunities. Or perhaps you’re reassessing your shipping plan to accommodate new receivers, new products, […]
Companies that transport dry and liquid commodities utilize the modes of truck, rail, barge, ocean and pipeline. Some shippers are fortunate enough to be able to utilize barge, ocean and pipeline that can provide significant cost savings. However, most shippers rely on truck, rail, or a combination of the two. When comparing the costs of […]
RSI Logistics Inc. (RSI) through its bulk terminal division, RSI Leasing Inc. has been awarded the operations of Norfolk Southern’ s (NS) Spartanburg SC Thoroughbred Bulk Terminals™ (TBT). The Spartanburg TBT is located 5 minutes from Interstates I-85, I-585 and I-26. The terminal is ideally positioned within 200 miles of Atlanta GA, Charlotte NC, Augusta […]
Shipping hazardous materials can be dangerous and can have serious consequences when done incorrectly. When shipping hazardous materials by rail, safety and compliance measures help to mitigate these risks, and mitigate harm if an incident occurs. Knowing and understanding these safety and compliance measures for shipping hazardous materials by rail will help to prevent delays, […]
Background on Bulk Terminals Transloading is the process of transferring a shipment from one mode of transportation to another. It is commonly relied on when one mode cannot be used for the entire trip, such as when a producer who is served by rail, but the receiver can only receive deliveries by truck. Since transloading requires […]
On December 1, 2019 the Norfolk Southern announced revisions to their NS 6004-D Demurrage and Storage tariff. The changes that were to become effective April 1, 2020 involved the NS implementing a new tiered demurrage and storage structure to address cars held for seven (7) days or longer. Chargeable per car per day rates for […]