Description: After World War II, railroad companies ceded freight, including mail and perishables, to semi trucks and instead favored goods like newsprint, chemicals and steel coils, which could sit in rail yards for days. Many freight companies made this change enthusiastically; trucking’s rise gave them a strong reason to stop servicing goods that were financial and logistical pains to ship. So long to the rail cars full of livestock.
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: Oct 09, 2022
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/09/opinion/business-economics/freight-train-mismanagement.html
Questions for discussion:
- How has the railroad industry mismanaged itself, according to the report?
- What are the solutions?
- Can truck and rail transportation co-operate and become a a more efficient system?
- How would this impact prices and supply management?
