Rail Reports and other Transport Indicators

[bga4444]

Neo, how is it going? As fragile as the economy is and with the latest "double dip" news on housing the rise in the price of gas/diesel will slow or turn any progress we have made on the economy around. I am very concerned. There is already a lot of talk about tapping into Europe's and America's strategic oil reserves. Sean Hannity, was talking last night about the current events setting the stage for WWIII. He could be right. Your thoughts? On a positive note my sales have been great at both locations. I say great tongue in check. Actually just better than last year. Which is still a improvement!

[neohguy]

Feb 23, 2011 10:02:33 GMT -5 bga4444 said:

Neo, how is it going? As fragile as the economy is and with the latest "double dip" news on housing the rise in the price of gas/diesel will slow or turn any progress we have made on the economy around. I am very concerned. There is already a lot of talk about tapping into Europe's and America's strategic oil reserves. Sean Hannity, was talking last night about the current events setting the stage for WWIII. He could be right. Your thoughts? On a positive note my sales have been great at both locations. I say great tongue in check. Actually just better than last year. Which is still a improvement!

Our business is doing better than what we were doing during the same time period for the previous 2 yrs. We recently hired 2 people to replace the three we let go and the two that left for other reasons.
I hired a contractor for installing a new bathroom in a house I recently purchased. His business took a beating after the housing crash but he is recently experiencing an uptick in jobs. Instead of installing bathrooms and kitchens for new home owners, he is now installing them for existing homeowners that have decided to stay put instead of acquiring another home for their retirement years. Some of these people are having the bath tub removed and a walk in tub/shower installed. Spare rooms are being remodeled into laundry rooms on the main floor of the house.
WWIII will probably happen someday but hopefully not tomorrow. Man has not really changed that much in the past three thousand years as far as wisdom goes.

[neohguy]

I'll post the rail report tomorrow. Here is a report from the American Trucking Association:
www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=26177&utm_source=express&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=newsletter
January Truck Tonnage Hits 3-Year High

Truck tonnage grew 8% in January from a year ago to its highest level in three years, American Trucking Associations said Wednesday.
The upturn, which was the largest since April, left the index at a reading of 117.1, ATA said in its monthly seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage report. The index uses the year 2000 as its baseline reading of 100. It was the highest level since January 2008.
January’s index gained 3.8% from December, and ATA revised December’s monthly increase to 2.5%, from a previously reported 2.2%.

For all of 2010, tonnage increased 5.7% compared with the previous year. It had dropped 8.7% in 2009.

ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said he was “very pleased” with the positive report.

“Many fleets told us that freight was solid in January, although operations were as challenge due to the winter storms that hit large parts of the country,” he said in a statement.

The report shows the economy is growing, Costello said, and he expects a good first half of 2010 in tonnage.

“At this point, the biggest threat is the recent run-up in oil prices, which could dampen consumer spending,” he cautioned.
ATA calculates the tonnage each month based on reports by its member trucking companies

[neohguy]

US railroads continue to show ytd gains when compared to the same time period in 2010 and 2009 but are still behind 2008. Ytd commodity loadings are up 6.7% vs 2010, up 4.7% vs 2009, but down 12% vs 2008.
Intermodal is up 9.1% vs 2010, up 14% vs 2009, and down 3.3% vs 2008.
Canadian commodity ytd loadings are down .8% vs 2010, up 11.7% vs 2009, and down 8.7% compared to 2008.
Combined North American railroads (Canada, Mexico, US) ytd commodity loadings are up 5.1% when compared to 2010, up 6.8% vs 2009, and down 10.5% vs 2008.
www.aar.org/NewsAndEvents/Freight-Rail-Traffic/2011/02/24-railtraffic.aspx
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Feb. 24, 2011 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported freight traffic continues to register gains with U.S. railroads originating 296,980 carloads, up 8.2 percent compared with the same week last year, for the week ending Feb. 19, 2011. Intermodal volume for the week was also up, totaling 233,993 trailers and containers, up 16.9 percent compared with the same week in 2010.

Sixteen of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases from the comparable week in 2010. Those groups posting significant increases in loadings included: metallic ores, up 77.6; stone, clay and glass products, up 20.2 percent; nonmetallic minerals, up 18.9 percent; coke, up 17.8 percent, and motor vehicles and equipment, up 16.3 percent. Those commodity groups reporting a drop in weekly traffic saw only single digit declines: grain mill products, down 9 percent; waste and nonferrous scrap, down 7.2 percent, and primary forest products, down 0.8 percent.

For the first seven weeks of 2011, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,981,437 carloads, up 6.7 percent from last year, and 1,524,340 trailers and containers, up 9.1 percent from the same point in 2010.

Canadian railroads reported volume of 73,448 cars for the week, up 4.1 percent from last year, and 46,489 trailers and containers, up 6.8 percent from 2010. For the first seven weeks of 2011, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 488,287 carloads, down 0.8 percent from the same point last year, and 316,988 trailers and containers, up 4.4 percent from last year.

Mexican railroads reported 14,107 carloads for the week, up 0.3 percent compared with the same week last year, and 8,476 trailers and containers, up 32.8 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first seven weeks of 2011 was 99,365 carloads, up 5.4 percent compared with the same point last year, and 50,348 trailers and containers, up 13.9 percent.

Combined North American rail volume for the first seven weeks of 2011 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 2,569,089 carloads, up 5.1 percent compared with the same point last year, and 1,891,676 trailers and containers, up 8.4 percent compared with last year.

[neohguy]

www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10082:seafarer-boycott-of-piracy-areas-now-possible&catid=44:latest-news&Itemid=64
Seafarer boycott of piracy areas ‘now possible’
Saturday, 26 February 2011 00:00
The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) today signalled its revulsion at the increasingly widespread and brutal piracy

epidemic and The global union federation, which numbers 201 maritime trade unions representing 720,000 said it is moving closer to having to advise seafarers to consider avoiding working in all the affected areas – including the Indian Ocean.seafarers worldwide, took the step after a week-long consultation sparked by the increasing number and range of Somali pirate attacks, and by their now routine use of extreme violence and death threats against the 800 mariners they are currently holding hostage.
The ITF also endorsed the need to neutralise the threat of the captured, hostage-crewed motherships that are allowing pirates to roam the Indian Ocean unmolested, recommended the carrying of military guards on ships, and recognised the use of private armed guards, subject to certain conditions.
There are currently over 800 seafarers being held hostage by Somali pirates, who executed two seafarers last month. They now routinely use death threats, torture and brutality such as keelhauling.
ITF seafarers’ section chair Dave Heindel commented: “The world has lost control of piracy. Each day it’s becoming more savage and more widespread. All the Arabian Gulf and most of the Indian Ocean are now effectively lawless. Yet there is a way that control can be regained: by actively going after pirates, stopping them and prosecuting them. Not this ludicrous situation of taking away their guns and setting them free to strike again.
“The burden of dealing with pirates is being borne by a few nations and the burden of actually taking them to court by even fewer. We have repeatedly requested stronger intervention by all governments, including the flag of convenience states that are reaping the profits from so much of the world’s shipping fleet without meeting any of the obligations. If we daily allow a few thousand thugs to rack up the danger and violence then we will soon reach a point where there is no alternative but to stop putting people and ships within their reach – with all the effects that could have on world trade and oil and food prices.”
These latest moves by the ITF reflect growing concern or even disgust across the shipping industry that pirates are being allowed to endanger lives, kill and put a stranglehold on vital trade routes almost at will. The ITF, BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO have already warned that ‘ship owners and their crews will be re-evaluating their current determination to ensure that this vital trade route remains open – over 40% of the world’s seaborne oil passes through the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. The shipping industry will be looking at all possible options, including alternative routes, which could have a dramatic effect on transport costs and delivery times - piracy is already estimated to cost the global economy between $7-12 billion per year”
We therefore advise seafarers and their trade unions to begin to prepare to refuse to go through the danger area, which includes the Gulf of Aden, off the Somali coast, the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean.We call on shipowners to join us in avoiding going through the area. The risk of passing through the affected area and the knowledge of the inhuman manner in which captured seafarers will be treated amount to a breach of their duty of care to seafarers. It is also reckless, to a point that, should a seafarer be killed by a pirate attack while the vessel transits the high risk area, it would amount to corporate manslaughter.We call on the military to neutralise the threat caused by the use of motherships....
...The ITF reaffirms its position that seafarers should never be armed;Given the level of risk, ships – especially high risk vessels – should, subject to national law, embark armed military personal for transit of the entire area where there is a significant risk of piracy. The military personnel should ideally come from the flag State or, failing that, from another State which has a bilateral agreement with the flag State to embark such personnel;
The ITF recognises that a growing number of shipowners are, in order to discharge the employer’s duty of care to the seafarers on board, embarking private armed guards or using private security vessels. Such personnel should be suitably trained, and put on only when there is an agreement with the trade union(s) representing the seafarers and adequate provisions have been made to avoid the seafarers on board the vessel having to face any potential criminal or civil sanctions. The crew should also retain any right they may have to choose not to work within that zone and be repatriated without penalty;We call on Governments to take all necessary measures to restore the freedom of navigation in these critical trade routes and eliminate the threat of pirate attacks. ...

[Virgil Showlion]

ITF seafarers’ section chair Dave Heindel commented: “The world has lost control of piracy. Each day it’s becoming more savage and more widespread. All the Arabian Gulf and most of the Indian Ocean are now effectively lawless. Yet there is a way that control can be regained: by actively going after pirates, stopping them and prosecuting them. Not this ludicrous situation of taking away their guns and setting them free to strike again.

I simply don't get this. Any case I've seen of Somali piracy is a dinghy of men with AK-47's going up against a freighter with a deck 15 feet above sea level.

If I'm Joe shipper, I'm going to post two heavily-armed mercenaries on each of my ships, install firing ports fore and aft, install proximity detectors to prevent night attacks, and give explicit instructions to open fire on any vessel that so much as hints at an approach.

If that's not enough, I'm going to mount a 20-mm cannon.

The ITF recognises that a growing number of shipowners are, in order to discharge the employer’s duty of care to the seafarers on board, embarking private armed guards or using private security vessels.

You're darn straight.

[Steady As She Goes]

I though I saw reports that the pirates had RPGs as well? Couldn't an RPG to the hull be detrimental to some of these freighters? Don't get me wrong ... piracy needs to be dealt with ... I'm just sayin that I thought they had more than AK-47s.

[neohguy]

Some pirates are now using hijacked freighters as mother ships. The captured crew members are modern day galley slaves and are being forced to operate the ships. The modern radar and radio equipment on these ships are an important tool for these pirates. Keeping the crew alive is useful for human shields.
Vessels that are flagged by a nation of convenience are catching flack for not being able to protect their ships.
The US learned this lesson after The Revolutionary War. We no longer had the powerful British navy for protection. The US landed up sending troops to North Africa to discourage piracy and extortion.

[neohguy]

Feb 28, 2011 13:31:46 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

ITF seafarers’ section chair Dave Heindel commented: “The world has lost control of piracy. Each day it’s becoming more savage and more widespread. All the Arabian Gulf and most of the Indian Ocean are now effectively lawless. Yet there is a way that control can be regained: by actively going after pirates, stopping them and prosecuting them. Not this ludicrous situation of taking away their guns and setting them free to strike again.

I simply don't get this. Any case I've seen of Somali piracy is a dinghy of men with AK-47's going up against a freighter with a deck 15 feet above sea level

I would prefer that the country that the ships flag is flying provide security. Ship owners pay a fee to that country to fly their flag. If that country can't protect its flag then find one that can.

I personally don't care for using mercenaries. I would rather see the country that the ship's flag is flying provide on board security people. The ship owners pay a fee to that country to fly their flag. If that country can't protect its flag then find one that can.

If I'm Joe shipper, I'm going to post two heavily-armed mercenaries on each of my ships, install firing ports fore and aft, install proximity detectors to prevent night attacks, and give explicit instructions to open fire on any vessel that so much as hints at an approach.

If that's not enough, I'm going to mount a 20-mm cannon.

The ITF recognises that a growing number of shipowners are, in order to discharge the employer’s duty of care to the seafarers on board, embarking private armed guards or using private security vessels.

You're darn straight.

[Virgil Showlion]

Couldn't an RPG to the hull be detrimental to some of these freighters?

You can't fire off an RPG if you're shot to Swiss cheese. And I doubt even an RPG blast would compromise the hull of a decent-sized freighter.

The modern radar and radio equipment on these ships are an important tool for these pirates. Keeping the crew alive is useful for human shields.

I'm not saying there aren't other human factors involved. Nevertheless, I would outfit my boats with enough firepower and personnel that any pirate faced a serious risk to life and limb if they decided to attack.

[neohguy]

I disagree with the use of mercenaries. They are too expensive. I would prefer to see security forces from the country that the ships flag is flying. Ship owners pay a fee to these countries to fly their flag. If that country is unable to protect its flag then pay one that can.

[Steady As She Goes]

And I doubt even an RPG blast would compromise the hull of a decent-sized freighter.

Yeah ... but if YOU and your shipmates are on a ship full of FUEL OIL ... is your "doubt" enough to ensure the safety of LIFE as well as your ship from an RGP? I would think you'd want to be CERTAIN.

But I do agree ... "I would outfit my boats with enough firepower and personnel that any pirate faced a serious risk to life and limb if they decided to attack."

[Virgil Showlion]

I would prefer to see security forces from the country that the ships flag is flying. Ship owners pay a fee to these countries to fly their flag. If that country is unable to protect its flag then pay one that can.

This would be the ideal situation.

Although my thoughts are that putting mercenaries on boats would be just the bad publicity a country's diplomats need to put more permanent measures in place.

I would think you'd want to be CERTAIN.

The standard RPG-7 is armor-penetrating up to 20". The distance between the inner and outer hulls of a chemical tanker (correct me if I'm wrong, neoh) would be several times this, no?

[itstippy]

The US Navy should take some of the nicer boats seized from drug smugglers and outfit them as Q-Ships. Navy personnel could enter a lottery for a two-month R&R cruise floating around drinking champaign, eating yummy food, and lounging about out of uniform looking like Mr. & Mrs Thurston Howell III. With the added bonus of a possibility for a "hunting outing" should some accommodating pirates show up on the radar. We have men & women who would love a chance to float around the Indian Ocean blowing pirates to Kingdom Come. It'd be their dream vacation!

[neohguy]

I don't know if a double hull would protect against an rpg. Not all rpg's are created equal. The ships weren't designed for that kind of test. Commercial ships are not designed to defend themselves against sea assaults. The ship is designed to house the crew members with not much for extra.
Tradition prefers that merchant mariners not be armed. You don't want an Israeli container ship and an Iranian freighter opening fire on each other because one of them thought that the other looked threatening. Harbor masters aren't crazy about armed merchant ships either.
The nations of the world have all kinds of navies manned by sailors and marines trained for sea battles. There are plenty of war ships available for convoy escort and killing pirates.

[Steady As She Goes]

I don't know if a double hull would protect against an rpg. Not all rpg's are created equal. The ships weren't designed for that kind of test. Commercial ships are not designed to defend themselves against sea assaults. The ship is designed to house the crew members with not much for extra.
Tradition prefers that merchant mariners not be armed. You don't want an Israeli container ship and an Iranian freighter opening fire on each other because one of them thought that the other looked threatening. Harbor masters aren't crazy about armed merchant ships either.
The nations of the world have all kinds of navies manned by sailors and marines trained for sea battles. There are plenty of war ships available for convoy escort and killing pirates.

Exactly!!!
(all except the killing part ... I'd hope we could find a better way)
I say take their fuel, weapons, radios, and the such, drop their motor overboard ... give them back their empty boat, a little water and bread and an oar or 2, and tell them to have at it since they like being out on the high seas in a little boat.

[neohguy]

Railroads continue with modest gains when compared to the first 8 weeks in 2010. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) represents major freight (class 1) railroads in the US, Canada, and Mexico. US railroads acount for ~75% of freight. Canada accounts for ~20%. Mexico for ~5%.
The US is the leading shipper for all commodities with the exception of iron ore. Canada normally ships about 3X as much ore as the US. The AAR misses this fact in their reports when they publish that ore shipped in the US is up 66.5% ytd. Canada is down 5.5% ytd so the combined shipments from both countries is only up 8.5% ytd. I personally feel this is due to the weak US dollar vs Canadian.

www.aar.org/NewsAndEvents/Freight-Rail-Traffic/2011/03/03-railtraffic.aspx
WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 3, 2011 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 26, 2011, saw gains with U.S. railroads originating 296,252 carloads, up 2.4 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week was also up, totaling 220,589 trailers and containers, up 7.2 percent compared with the same week in 2010.

Fourteen of the 20 carload commodity groups posted increases from the comparable week in 2010. Those groups posting significant increases included: metallic ores, up 78.2; nonmetallic minerals, up 12.4 percent; and stone, clay and glass products, up 10.4 percent. Those commodity groups reporting a significant drop in weekly traffic included: waste and nonferrous scrap, down 17.2 percent; grain mill products, down 16 percent; farm products except grain, down 15.4 percent, and primary forest products, down 10.8 percent.

Weekly carload volume on Eastern railroads was up 1.7 percent compared with last year. In the West, weekly carload volume was up 3 percent compared with the same week in 2010.

For the first eight weeks of 2011, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 2,277,689 carloads, up 6.1 percent from last year, and 1,744,929 trailers and containers, up 8.9 percent from the same point in 2010.

Canadian railroads reported volume of 71,262 cars for the week, down 0.1 percent from last year, and 46,661 trailers and containers, up 7.7 percent from 2010. For the first eight weeks of 2011, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 559,549 carloads, down 0.8 percent from the same point last year, and 363,649 trailers and containers, up 4.8 percent from last year.

Mexican railroads reported 14,828 carloads for the week, up 5.6 percent compared with the same week last year, and 7,773 trailers and containers, up 13.1 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first eight weeks of 2011 was 114,193 carloads, up 5.4 percent compared with the same point last year, and 58,121 trailers and containers, up 13.8 percent.

Combined North American rail volume for the first eight weeks of 2011 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 2,951,431 carloads, up 4.7 percent compared with the same point last year, and 2,166,699 trailers and containers, up 8.3 percent compared with last year.

[neohguy]

www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11236:port-of-ny-nj-containers-jumped-16-percent-in-2010&catid=44:latest-news&Itemid=64
Port of NY-NJ Containers Jumped 16 Percent in 2010
Total container volume moving through the Port of New York and New Jersey climbed 16 percent in 2010, reaching 5,292,020 loaded and empty 20-foot equivalent units, compared to 4,561,527
TEUs in 2009, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Thursday.
TEU volume in 2010 was slightly below the 5,299,105 TEUS recorded in 2007, which was an annual record for the port.
Data compiled by the port’s terminal operators shows that loaded TEUs in 2010 totaled 4,097,420. Loaded imports and exports totaled 2,579,093 and 1,518,327 respectively. Imports grew 14.9 percent from 2009, while exports rose 9 percent.
In 2010, the port handled 376,770 containers through its ExpressRail system, up 22.3 percent from 2009 and nearing the annual record set in 2008.
The port’s total general cargo volume, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Census, increased to 32.2 million metric tons in 2010, compared to 28.2 million metric tons in 2009. General cargo imports totaled 21 million metric tons, an increase of 14.3 percent. General cargo exports increased 13.9 percent, from 9.8 million metric tons in 2009 to 11.2 million metric tons in 2010.
Total bulk cargo was down 1 percent to 49.2 million metric tons in 2010, compared to 49.7 million metric tons in 2009. Total bulk cargo imports showed increases in organic chemicals, sugars, and fats and oils, but still decreased 0.5 percent from 40.2 million metric tons in 2009 to 40.0 million metric tons in 2010.
Total bulk cargo exports decreased 3.3 percent, from 9.4 million metric tons in 2009 to 9.1 million metric tons in 2010. However, there were significant increases in food waste/animal feed, cereals, and beverages.
Total cargo volume by weight (bulk and general cargo combined), grew 4.5 percent, from 77.9 million metric tons in 2009 to 81.4 million metric tons in 2010.
The port authority said the dollar value of all cargo handled in the port during 2010 exceeded $175 billion.
The number of vehicles handled throughout the port in 2010, including small trucks, vans, SUVs and other personal vehicles, was 693,031, up 12.2 percent.
The top five containerized import commodities by volume were furniture, women’s and infant wear, miscellaneous apparel, beer and ale, and menswear.
The top five containerized export commodities by volume were paper, automobiles, scrap metal, household goods, and auto parts.
Imported general cargo commodities showing major growth by volume were iron/steel products, organic chemicals, electrical machinery, and vehicles.
Exported general cargo commodities showing major growth by volume were soaps and waxes, wood, rubber, and paper.
The top five trading partners in general cargo tonnage were China, India, Italy, Germany, and Brazil.
There were 4,811 ship calls in the Port of New York and New Jersey in 2010, compared to 4,808 in 2009.

[neohguy]

More pirate stuff :

www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11296:union-crews-will-boycott-freight-vessels-ignoring-anti-piracy-practices&catid=44:latest-news&Itemid=64
Union Crews Will Boycott Freight Vessels Ignoring Anti Piracy Practices
Saturday, 05 March 2011 00:00

In the light of the tactics used by Somali pirates in recent months the maritime union, Nautilus International, which represents more than 23,000 seagoing professionals has today secured an agreement with UK ship owners extending the existing ‘high risk’ piracy area into the Indian Ocean.
Talks at the national warlike operations area committee arranged in response to the growing spread of pirate attacks on merchant ships and their crews resulted in a new agreement designed to reflect the increased risks. It designates the Indian Ocean as a high risk area, in addition to the previous agreement covering the Gulf of Aden.
This means that seafarers on ships operated by companies covered by the UK Chamber of Shipping will have to right to refuse to serve on ships sailing through these areas if they are not operating in accordance with the internationally-agreed Best Management Practices to deter piracy or are not sailing through the Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden. Nautilus and the Chamber have also agreed to meet again within a few weeks to discuss the Union’s concerns over the threats faced by members serving in Nigerian waters. Nautilus International’s assistant general secretary Paul Moloney commented:
“These were positive discussions and we believe that the new agreement is a pragmatic response to the growing dangers faced by members. The Best Management Practices are internationally-agreed guidelines that have been developed by owners and unions, including Nautilus, and it is clear that they have a significant effect in reducing the risk of attack, as virtually no ships applying BMP have been taken by the pirates. However, members who are serving on ships that will transit the area and who believe that BMP are not being applied onboard should contact us as a matter of urgency.”
Nautilus International is the trade union representing 23,000 maritime professionals including ship masters, officers and officer trainees and shipping industry personnel.

[Virgil Showlion]

Union Crews Will Boycott Freight Vessels Ignoring Anti Piracy Practices

Good on them.

I admit I'm not much of a fan of unions, but if a union is what it takes to avoid being sent out like a lamb to the slaughter...

[Deleted]

I can eventually see freighters avoiding the area completely and passing on the cost to the customers. The union was right to take that stand, it's about time.