FreightWaves Today: Broad rail traffic gains show growing industrial economy

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Rail markets see multi-sector volume surge

Mike Baudendistel, head of intermodal solutions at FreightWaves SONAR, broke down the latest weekly rail traffic numbers from the Association of American Railroads (AAR) for the week ending June 6.

Baudendistel highlighted that rail traffic has seen robust momentum across sectors, with rail carload traffic up 2.5% and rail intermodal traffic surging 8% year-over-year on a four-week rolling average.

He emphasized that growth in rail carloads is historically a highly reliable, positive indicator that the broader industrial economy is expanding.

TMS evolution shifts toward accessible automation

PCS Software CEO Mark Hill joined the show to discuss how transportation management systems are being reborn through a new wave of technologies.

Hill noted that the company has heavily invested in rearchitecting its platform with advanced AI capabilities, such as their award-winning Cortex system, to help carriers and asset-based brokers streamline dispatch and back-office operations.

He emphasized that these powerful automation tools are no longer reserved for industry giants; modern accessibility allows small and mid-sized companies to compete on a level playing field.

Regulatory vetting shortfalls raise carrier safety concerns

Jim Mullen, president of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and former acting administrator of the FMCSA, highlighted the safety risks created by staffing shortages at federal safety agencies.

A recently released TCA white paper calls on Congress to address the math putting lives at risk, pointing out that only 1,100 federal employees are currently tasked with overseeing nearly 8 million regulated entities.

Mullen advocated for a much more robust carrier vetting process at the outset, stating that obtaining operating authority should require more than simply having “$300 and a truck.”