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Advancing Freight Efficiency: The NC State and Railinc Partnership

In a significant development for the logistics industry, North Carolina State University has teamed up with Railinc to enhance freight efficiency through an innovative study focused on modal rebalancing. This partnership promises to leverage state-of-the-art big data analysis to optimize how rail is used in supply chains. The overarching goal is clear: to identify strategic opportunities to transfer freight from trucks to trains, thereby offering substantial cost savings, reducing environmental impacts, and providing critical insights for infrastructure planning.

According to Allen West, the CEO of Railinc, the rail industry has made impressive strides towards improving freight efficiency over the years. This new study is designed to build on that progress. "Understanding how freight volume can be shifted, even slightly, from trucking to rail can yield significant benefits across the supply chain," he noted. The study aims to document how a mere 2% shift in freight transportation could increase intermodal rail tonnage dramatically. Such changes not only would help in justifying investments in infrastructure but also would ease congestion on highways, ultimately benefiting the environment.

Dr. George List, a prominent professor at NC State, echoed these sentiments, highlighting that early assessments indicate promising outcomes. The research will uncover viable and cost-effective areas where freight service rebalancing can occur, making a compelling case for enhanced rail transport capabilities. "Our assessments show that a relatively small shift in traditional freight movement can drive substantial benefits," said Dr. List.

This initiative aligns perfectly with the rail industry's commitment to sustainability and safety. It also contributes to broader efforts aimed at emissions reduction and enhanced transportation efficiency. Earlier work by NC State, specifically the NCDOT Research Project 2023-09, has set the stage for this collaboration by examining the modal demands of various supply chain sectors and establishing a foundation for a more expansive national analysis.

Dr. Daniel J. Findley, Associate Director at NC State's Institute for Transportation Research and Education, emphasized the importance of combining analytical capabilities from both NC State and Railinc. This cooperation seeks to deliver insights that not only support industry leaders but also help policymakers in making informed, swift, and confident decisions. Freight rail transport often remains an undervalued component in logistics; this research aims to illuminate its advantages in terms of cost, capacity, and sustainability compared to other transportation modes.

Furthermore, this partnership marks the beginning of an extensive collaboration that will pave the way for future research initiatives, opportunities for student engagements, and workforce development. With the continuous evolution of the logistics industry, such collaborations will be pivotal.

About Railinc

Railinc is the premier provider of railroad data, IT, and information services within the freight transportation industry. With headquarters in Cary, North Carolina, Railinc is crucial in helping railroads, equipment owners, and other stakeholders operate their businesses more efficiently. Serving as the largest single source of real-time interline rail data for the North American rail network, Railinc is dedicated to enhancing the efficiency of rail transport and promoting innovation in the freight sector.

As the freight landscape evolves, the NC State and Railinc partnership symbolizes the proactive steps being taken to ensure rail transportation can compete effectively in the multimodal logistics environment. Through cutting-edge analysis and an unwavering commitment to actionable insights, this initiative is poised to create more resilient supply chains, fostering stronger, sustained community growth.