I am a transportation consultant and writer with more than 25 years of professional experience in the rail industry. On this web site, you will be able to learn more about my professional background, about the consulting services I provide to members of the transportation community, and about my monthly newsletter, Rail StockWatch . You will also find links to news and information sources about the rail industry, and to web sites of publicly-traded railroad, intermodal and rail supply companies. I believe that creating value is at the heart of every consulting project, just as it should be the basis for every transaction between carrier and shipper. Much of the recent controversy over rail service quality comes down to a question of value.
Railroads often equate their low prices with high value.
They focus on producing transportation at the lowest possible cost, believing that this is the surest way for them to generate economic value. Shippers, by contrast, measure value not just in terms of the price paid for transportation but also on the basis of inventory and other supply chain costs. However, rail transportation doesn't have to be a zero-sum game. Changes in service that add value for shippers and other users of the rail network should also add value for the companies that maintain and operate that network. On each project that I undertake, I try to find ways that value can be created for both the buyer and seller of transportation.