Tellier appears more flexible than his peers toward shipper negotiations. While other railroad CEOs are willing to meet with shippers individually, they reject a coalition of captive-shipper groups and are unwilling to negotiate some topics. There is no hope if we try it with all interest groups. Ditto Association of American Railroads President Ed Hamberger. Sadler said that were railroads to meet individually with shipper groups, the railroads could whipsaw shippers.
Shippers pay our salaries.
Davidson left the door slightly ajar. A merger with Burlington Northern Santa Fe came within a hockey-puck's diameter of moving forward and consolidation with a U.S. railroad still might occur. Although CN's headquarters is in Montreal, Tellier said he acts no differently than if it were in Madison, Wis., and he intends to spend more time on Capitol Hill with U.S. lawmakers. So I changed the senior management. He now seems intent to change the hidebound culture of an industry that is absolutely unique in forging adversarial relationships with so many of its customers.