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Do higher fuel prices mean higher intermodal shipments / traffic?

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Posted by Shadow the Cats owner on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 9:45 AM

All I know is my boss is celebrating with his fuel hedge from last year.  He dang near borrowed against everything that he was worth and bought 4 years worth of fuel at just over 2.50 a gallon from a major truck stop chain good nationwide.  Well to say he was correct in his hunch was putting it mildly.  We're pretty much locked in and the savings are going to allow us to maybe grow some more.  

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Posted by Erik_Mag on Sunday, March 13, 2022 1:18 PM

BaltACD

In past fuel crunches the Class 1 carriers have added 'Fuel Surcharges' to their freight bills.

I remember reading about 'fuel surcharges' in the past.

Since IM by rail usually takes less fuel per ton-mile than IM by truck, the Class 1 fuel surcharges "should" be less than the truckers fuel surcharges. What happens in real life may be different from this simplistic analysis.

My comment about expected time frame for the high fuel prices is how much investment is justifiable to reduce fuel consumption.

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, March 12, 2022 9:32 PM

Erik_Mag
That thought (more IM on rail) was going through my head earlier this week when paying $6.50/gal for diesel (saw $5.80/gal later that day....). Part of it depends on how long the high oil prices will last.

In past fuel crunches the Class 1 carriers have added 'Fuel Surcharges' to their freight bills.

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Posted by Erik_Mag on Saturday, March 12, 2022 9:00 PM

That thought (more IM on rail) was going through my head earlier this week when paying $6.50/gal for diesel (saw $5.80/gal later that day....). Part of it depends on how long the high oil prices will last.

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, March 12, 2022 10:11 AM

I would think that might be true in lanes where one could easily replace the other.  Otherwise, not so much.

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Do higher fuel prices mean higher intermodal shipments / traffic?
Posted by CMStPnP on Saturday, March 12, 2022 10:00 AM

Curious on the impact of higher Diesel Fuel prices and if it translates into more shipments by railroad intermodal trains vs OTR trucking.   Understood higher fuel prices are felt by railroads as well but not as much as other modes.

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