Rail industry faces shortage of qualified workers
The rising cost of fuel is resulting in an increase in the intermodal process of placing tractor-trailers onto rail cars. The highway trailer or container chassis can accommodate up to 150 53-foot trailers for medium-length hauls between urban areas.
"One freight train can carry as much cargo as 500 trucks and one intermodal container train can carry nearly 300 truck trailers," claims Edward Hamberger, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads.
Ken Kertesz, Pennsylvania Legislative Board of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen chairman and a labor leader for the rail industry, projects a shortage of engineers in his state of Pennsylvania. "While rail service increases, our railroads face an urgent shortage of qualified, well-trained men and women to operate and manage the rail systems. Our existing work force is aging and increasingly stressed to keep up with the influx in rail traffic. We're seeing need estimates that range from 60,000 to 210,000 new rail labor workers over the next decade. We are looking at ways to work more closely with railroad management to address these shortages," Kertesz says.
The Department of Transportation has recently estimated that freight traffic will double in the near future and it will require greater levels of investment in the infrastructure, equipment, labor and security of the rail system in order to meet the demands of future rail business.
Sharon Daboin, Deputy Secretary of Aviation and Railroads for PennDOT, notes, "Rail freight in Pennsylvania can provide opportunities for economic development in the 21st Century. Efficient freight and goods mobility is critical to local jobs and businesses, as well as to the supplies of food and services that we take for granted."
Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2012 Penton Media Inc.
Advertisement
Feature Article
2012 Top 10 Predictions for the Supply Chain in 2012
2012 will see the consumer take a more prominent role in directing the course of supply chain management, as volatile demand has become the new norm.
More Feature Articles
- How Lift Truck Fleet Management Helped a 3PL Improve Service
- Commentary: Why Logistics and Politics Need to Mix — for the Economy’s Sake
- It Only Takes a Moment to Win - or Lose - a Customer
More Web Exclusive Features
More from the January Issue
MH&L Video Spotlight
Kuna Foodservice, a food distributor based in St. Louis, Mo., expanded to a 98,000 sq. ft. distribution center that includes a refrigerated receiving dock, freezer and storage area for paper and canned goods. Learn more.
Featured Suppliers
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus