Rail Freight

Thursday, September 15th

From sessions to networking, we impact your decision-making

Continued capacity issues are plaguing the trucking industry and driving shippers to search for help on the rail and intermodal networks. This freight-focused look at the rail and intermodal industry will give you clarity on the dynamics of railcar capacity and demand, economic and freight outlooks, regulatory impacts, and a review of each of the major sectors of rail freight. Featuring presentations from major shippers and rail executives as well as the power of the FTR Freight•cast forecasting methodology, you'll leave with a deeper understanding of the state of competitiveness between rail, intermodal, and trucking.

ATTENDEES CAN EXPECT:

  • Economic and freight outlooks that focus on factors that will affect rail demand

  • A look into the current state of regulations and what to expect as the new Administration ramps up activity

  • Executive Keynote discussion to get insights directly from a major industry executive

  • A full suite of panels and presentations that look at each of the major sectors of rail freight: Grain, Intermodal, Metals, Energy, etc.

  • A look at how railcar capacity has been affected by changes in demand by sector and what to expect going forward

 

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Agenda

Click on the agenda titles below to view session descriptions.

Thursday, September 15th

6:30 AM - Indy Canal Run/Walk

Meet in the Crowne Plaza lobby. Start your day off right with a 3 or 5-mile run, or a 2-mile walk down the Indy canal. A great time to enjoy the beauty of Indianapolis and engage with your colleagues. Participants also receive a complimentary running shirt.

8:45 AM - Welcome
9:00 AM - The Foundation of Freight: What the Economic Landscape Tells Us

Hear from a respected industry economist about the economic indicators most likely to change the shape of freight demand over the next year. In addition, it will address the biggest risk factors among economic and industry outlooks.

Presenter: 
Emily Sanchez, American Chemistry Council

9:45 AM - Supply Chain Shifts: How to Navigate the Changes

This session will offer the FTR perspective on where carload and intermodal freight is headed in the year ahead. After a year of constantly shifting sands, we’ll provide our best outlook on where things are headed.

Presenter: 
Todd Tranausky, FTR

10:30 AM - Networking Break
10:45 AM - Freight by Numbers: Understanding the Industry Through Data

All sorts of new data is available to the rail industry to better track their equipment as it moves. This session will discuss some of best and brightest insights shippers can gain from these new data sources and how to best leverage them.

Presenter: 
John Schmitter, RailState, LLC

11:15 AM - Regulators Take Center Stage: A Look Into the D.C. Regulatory Scene

Two regulatory attorneys discuss and debate the major issues of the day as the Surface Transportation Board becomes more active in the industry. After several dormant years, shippers are again having to lean into the regulatory scene in Washington, DC.

Panelists: 
Karyn Booth, Thompson Hine, LLP
Bill Mullins, Baker & Miller, PLLC

Moderator: 
Todd Tranausky, FTR

12:00 PM - Lunch
1:00 PM - Inside the Mind of a Shipper: Approaching Rail Freight

A leading rail shipper discusses the market from their perspective along with the potential risk factors they are watching that could alter the modal or overall volume landscape in the year ahead.

Presenter:
Kevin Murray, Red Gold

1:30 PM - The Railroad Perspective: How a Class I Executive is Planning for the Year Ahead

Coming out of the pandemic has not been a straight-line process or smooth for the rail industry. Hear a Class I executive discuss the carrier perspective and what the carriers are watching in the year ahead.

Presenter: 
Coming soon! Please check back for updates.

2:00 PM - An Expert Perspective: The Petroleum Sector

An expert on how crude oil and ethanol moves by rail will give us the inside perspective on what to expect from this commodity group in the months ahead, as well as a look at where and how the market is moving now.

Presenter: 
Chris Baltimore, Argus Media

2:30 PM - Networking Break
2:45 PM - Wall Street’s Stance: The Financial Community’s Focus

One of the Wall Street analysts that follows the rail sector will provide his thoughts on what the rail industry’s shareholders will focus on in the year ahead.

Presenter: 
Justin Long, Stephens, Inc. 

3:15 PM - Intermodal: Growth Darling or Disappointment?

Intermodal was supposed to be the growth driver for rail volumes for decades to come, but the last few years have been challenging. Intermodal market experts discuss what they see on the road ahead for the industry.

Panelists:
David Marsh, Celtic International, Inc. 
Craig Paulsen, Schneider National

Moderator: 
Todd Tranausky, FTR

4:45 PM - Women in Rail Transportation Reception

Details coming soon! 

5:30 PM - Evening Reception: Sponsored by TrinityRail

Details coming soon! 

Rail Freight Agenda

Click the download button to view the agenda pdf.

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Previous companies by industry

Every Great Growth-Driven Design Project 

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Rail Freight Speakers

MelissaYounger_20210719_016_cropped
Melissa Younger

Melissa is the Events Manager with FTR. She joined our team at the end of 2015, after spending almost 10 years at Indiana University’s School of Public Health, managing events, finances, and day-to-day operations for the Office of Development and Communications. At FTR, she is responsible for managing FTR's annual Transportation Conference, FTR webinars, and other events.  

JonStarks_20210719_016
Jonathan Starks
Jon is the Chief Intelligence Officer at FTR. He has spent his entire career in the freight transportation sector having joined FTR in 2001. Jon's expertise includes freight modeling, modal analysis, fleet characteristics, and equipment demand. He is directly responsible for producing FTR's Freight-cast transportation model, producing more than 13 million datapoints and 85,000 forecasted items each and every month.
JamiSargent_20210719_013
Jami Sargent
Jami is the Chief of Staff at FTR. She joined the FTR team in 2016 after having spent over 13 years working for a non-profit organization focused on mental health issues. As Practice Manager for the non-profit, Jami was responsible for the operations, billing, and regulatory compliance. At FTR she is responsible for managing FTR's company financial accounts, contracting and administrative team.
MelissaYounger_20210719_016_cropped
Melissa Younger

Melissa is the Events Manager with FTR. She joined our team at the end of 2015, after spending almost 10 years at Indiana University’s School of Public Health, managing events, finances, and day-to-day operations for the Office of Development and Communications. At FTR, she is responsible for managing FTR's annual Transportation Conference, FTR webinars, and other events.  

JonStarks_20210719_016
Jonathan Starks
Jon is the Chief Intelligence Officer at FTR. He has spent his entire career in the freight transportation sector having joined FTR in 2001. Jon's expertise includes freight modeling, modal analysis, fleet characteristics, and equipment demand. He is directly responsible for producing FTR's Freight-cast transportation model, producing more than 13 million datapoints and 85,000 forecasted items each and every month.
JamiSargent_20210719_013
Jami Sargent
Jami is the Chief of Staff at FTR. She joined the FTR team in 2016 after having spent over 13 years working for a non-profit organization focused on mental health issues. As Practice Manager for the non-profit, Jami was responsible for the operations, billing, and regulatory compliance. At FTR she is responsible for managing FTR's company financial accounts, contracting and administrative team.

Rail Freight agenda

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View companies in your industry that have previously attended.
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Rail Freight Speakers

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Eric is Chairman & CEO of FTR, the industry leader in freight transportation forecasting.
Having spent his entire career in the freight transportation sector, he is a leading researcher in freight modal share analysis and forecasting. His background includes research in both rail and truck freight movements and asset equipment purchases. He is one of the premier industry forecasters on transportation equipment demand for rail cars, commercial trucks, and trailers.  

Eric Starks FTR Transportation Intelligence

Todd is FTR’s Vice President of Rail and Intermodal, joining the firm in January 2018. In that role, he oversees and participates in the firm’s forecasting and production of all its rail and intermodal products, including within the rail equipment space. He previously was Argus’ North American transportation editor, responsible for overseeing the quality of Argus’ existing transportation reports and leading the company’s new product development in this area.

Todd Tranausky FTR Transportation Intelligence

Jon is the Chief Intelligence Officer at FTR. He has spent his entire career in the freight transportation sector having joined FTR in 2001. Jon's expertise includes freight modeling, modal analysis, fleet characteristics, and equipment demand. He is directly responsible for producing FTR's Freight-cast transportation model, producing more than 13 million data points and 85,000 forecasted items each month.

Jonathan Starks FTR Transportation Intelligence

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