Rail Equipment

A fireside chat with Trinity Rail’s Eric Marchetto about the railcar manufacturing space. We will discuss where the industry is today and where it is headed over the coming years. Then, Eric will talk about what car types he has his eye on that could be surprising.

Presenters: 
Eric Marchetto, TrinityRail
Eric Starks, FTR

This session will provide an outlook on the specific railcar types and what is most likely to happen from a build rate and retirement perspective as the industry works toward its next peak. The session will also include a discussion of the risk factors FTR is watching that could alter the industry’s trajectory.

Presenter: 
Todd Tranausky, FTR

This panel will look at flammable liquids tank cars as well as other non-hazardous material freight that moves in tank cars to provide a picture of what the year ahead might look like.

Panelists: 
Jay Carter, The Greenbrier Companies
Curtis Chandler, Progressive Fuels, Ltd. 

Moderator: 
Todd Tranausy, FTR

Boxcars should have strong deliveries for the next few years after recent strong order activity. But what happens after that and what freight types will underpin demand going beyond the current boom.

Presenters: 
Ben Elpers, KBX Rail
Jerry Vest, TTX

Moderator: 
Todd Tranausky, FTR

A leading Wall Street analyst will discuss how Wall Street views the rail equipment industry and what the financial sector is watching over the next few quarters.

Presenter: 
Matt Elkott, Cowen

A leading railcar leasing executive provides his take on the industry and what metrics matter from a leasing perspective over the next few quarters. We’ll also discuss the risk factors that could dramatically alter the calculus.

Presenters:  
Kevin Cook, Mitsui Rail
Eric Starks, FTR

This session will provide a conversation with the fertilizer industry about their demand needs over the next year, along with what it means for the broader agriculture space. This session will provide insight into the railcar needs of the ag sector and whether they are likely to increase, decrease, or stay level over the next 12 months.

Presenter: 
Justin Louchheim, The Fertilizer Institute
Todd Tranausky, FTR

Gondolas and open-top hoppers are a tale of two car types. Gondolas have been buoyed by the robust metals market of the last two years while coal has acted as an anchor for open-top hoppers. This panel will explore the two related, yet different car types and their differing futures.

Panelists: 
John Carr, Dairyland Power Cooperative
Bob Pickel, National Steel Car

Moderator: 
Todd Tranausky, FTR

Growth in the flat car market faces near-term headwinds as automotive and intermodal volumes struggle. Eventually, these commodity sectors should see demand recover and their railcar needs increase. But the exact timing of that recovery and its flow-through to railcars is murky. This panel of experts will provide insights into the outlook.

Panelists: 
David Nahass, Railroad Financial Corp. 

Moderator: 
Todd Tranausky, FTR

There are sustained demand drivers in the grain and plastic pellet/resin markets that should allow for robust orders and deliveries. But rebuilds of excess cars into more in-demand car types could dilute the demand fundamentals for new equipment demand. Our panel will explore this potential phenomenon and more.

Panelists: 
Tyler Dickman, GATX
Rob Cook, Bunge

Moderator: 
Todd Tranausky, FTR