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News Wire: Grain shippers squawk about CSX service

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Posted by Brian Schmidt on Friday, August 18, 2017 8:45 AM

In letter to railroad board, group of associations describe production shortages; emergency truckloads to poultry farms

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/08/18-csx-grain-shippers

Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine

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Posted by Shadow the Cats owner on Friday, August 18, 2017 4:44 PM

One of our largest shippers in New York they are on the old NYC that is part of CSX just told us that instead of 5 dedicated drivers running 3 rounds a week each way they just need 2 for a while.  Why CSX can't deliver enough raw materials to them to keep the factory running.  What do they make there Peanut Butter and pancake syrups and the raw goods come in via CSX.  They have been waiting 3 weeks for 2 hoppers full of peanuts from GA.  So yeah EHH has CSX so screwed up that even nuts can't move.  Oh well that gives us 1 more team for UPS and they will gladly take them 2 more trucks we can use where ever we can to help our other customers.  I just hope the driver that gets the Owner of the company can handle driving with the founder of the company for a couple weeks.  

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Posted by Norm48327 on Saturday, August 19, 2017 9:56 AM

Shadow the Cats owner

One of our largest shippers in New York they are on the old NYC that is part of CSX just told us that instead of 5 dedicated drivers running 3 rounds a week each way they just need 2 for a while.  Why CSX can't deliver enough raw materials to them to keep the factory running.  What do they make there Peanut Butter and pancake syrups and the raw goods come in via CSX.  They have been waiting 3 weeks for 2 hoppers full of peanuts from GA.  So yeah EHH has CSX so screwed up that even nuts can't move.  Oh well that gives us 1 more team for UPS and they will gladly take them 2 more trucks we can use where ever we can to help our other customers.  I just hope the driver that gets the Owner of the company can handle driving with the founder of the company for a couple weeks. 

Not sure where you're coming from except to say CSX has let down lots of shippers.  I recall CN employees telling me Harrison was only interested in the 'long haul' and car load shippers were no loger of value to CN. Most CN employees I spoke with disagreed with Harrison. Most were also worried about their jobs should they disagree with 'the big boss'.

That was several years ago. Harrison will blame others for his failures till the cows come home. He's one egotistical SOB. Both CN and CP were left to clean up the mess he made of both railroads. GEt the money and run appears to be his motto.

Norm


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Posted by Shadow the Cats owner on Saturday, August 19, 2017 12:30 PM

Well UPS as of Sept 1st is pulling everything off of CSX and putting if possible onto NS those that can't be moved by NS will be moved by team trucks for now.  Fed Ex is giving them till Oct 1st to straighten out.  JB Hunt Scheinder and the other OTR companies that are IM shippers are from what I have heard are on the same timeline as Fed Ex and all are planning the same as UPS as much as possible to NS running the rest themselves.  Conagra that is our customer that lowered our truck demands is wanting to use NS however the only tracks that serve this plant is CSX so they are screwed.  All we are hearing from our customers is this if we can move more from them please help us and do more.  We are doing as much as we can for them but and this is OTR industry wide we are running out of trucks that can do this.  

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Saturday, August 19, 2017 2:56 PM

I see an opportunity for NS to take most of the distance of these kinds of hauls, then establish - or use an existing - transload facility to go by truck for the 'last mile', thereby cutting CSX out of the haul entirely.

- PDN.  

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, August 19, 2017 4:03 PM

PM sent, Paul.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, August 19, 2017 4:09 PM

The shippers, like UPS that are leaving CSX are not coming back tomorrow.  They leaving and signing contracts that will be in place for several years for the alternative transportation requirements.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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