As a leader in the rail industry, Norfolk Southern is constantly innovating to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of shipping by rail. A key part of that is formulating RailPulse. This is a groundbreaking joint venture dedicated to revolutionizing the way customers visualize shipments and track their goods.

RailPulse is being spearheaded by forward-thinking industry leaders, including Norfolk Southern Chief Strategy Officer Mike McClellan who founded the joint venture and serves as its chair. The venture aims to accelerate the adoption of GPS and other telematics technology throughout the North American railcar network. By providing real-time data on location, condition, and health, RailPulse can offer unprecedented visibility into the movement and status of rail shipments.

“RailPulse is more than just a technology platform—it's a collaborative effort to establish industry standards and best practices for railcar telematics,” said Norfolk Southern SVP and Chief Strategy Officer Mike McClellan. “By defining open communication protocols and physical installation requirements, RailPulse aims to streamline the adoption process and facilitate interoperability across the entire rail supply chain.”

One of the key features of RailPulse is its comprehensive tracking capabilities. Through track-level GPS location data, customers can precisely monitor their shipments in real time, and whether the railcars are in motion or stationary. This level of visibility enables proactive decision-making and helps to minimize delays and disruptions.

RailPulse also provides valuable insights into the condition of railcars, including whether they are loaded or unloaded, the status of doors and hatches, and environmental factors such as temperature and moisture. By monitoring these variables, customers can ensure the integrity of their goods throughout the shipping process, reducing the risk of damage or spoilage.

At Norfolk Southern, we recognize the immense potential of RailPulse to transform the rail shipping experience for our customers. By harnessing the power of RailPulse, we can unlock new opportunities for safety, efficiency, and innovation.

In addition to monitoring the condition of individual railcars, RailPulse also focuses on the health of the overall fleet. By tracking mechanical components such as bearings, bolsters, and couplers, operators can identify maintenance issues before they escalate, minimizing downtime and optimizing asset utilization.

Norfolk Southern will have over 2,000 of its own railcars in the program by the end of 2024. As we continue to expand our partnership with RailPulse and onboard additional participants, including customers, short-line operators, and freight car manufacturers, we're confident that together, we can shape the future of rail transportation in North America.