The past couple pandemic years have done a number on companies, industries and economies of all kinds. In the freight transportation realm, "business as usual became business as highly unusual," as Managing Editor Jeff Stagl put it in this month's cover story detailing the Norfolk Southern Railway brain trust's response to said unusualness, and the corresponding adversity surrounding same (see page 4). To be better prepared as consumer habits, the supply chain, and other freight and global factors change, the Thoroughbred needed a new operating plan, a sharper customer focus and a few new tools (e.g., additional automation), NS execs told Stagl. The need to be better prepared took on yet another dimension last month. Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted a number of companies from around the globe to halt product sales and shipments involving Russia. The world's largest ocean carriers didn't wait for governments to impose sanctions on specific freight moves; at least six had suspended Russian bookings as this issue went to press. Every link in the freight transportation chain will be affected by the booking and business suspensions. Meanwhile, U.S. consumer prices have risen nearly 8 over the past 12 months. And oil prices surged to a seven-year high on March 1.
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