In 2024, 94 customers either began shipping with Norfolk Southern for the first time or established new business opportunities with our railroad. These new opportunities showcase the growing importance of rail across industries like intermodal, automotive, manufacturing, agriculture, chemicals, consumer goods, and more.

“We’re grateful that these valued customers are trusting Norfolk Southern for their supply chain needs,” said Norfolk Southern EVP and Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins. “We’re producing service that customers can count on every day, delivered by people they can trust.  That is our goal.  This is how we expand our partnerships and support the growth of critical and emerging industries here in America.”

These trends align with increased US rail traffic. American freight railroads hauled 516,743 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Nov. 2, a 6.6% increase compared with traffic levels in the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data. Carloads totaled 228,635, up 1.9%, while intermodal volume reached 288,108 containers and trailers, up 10.7%. Nine of the 10 carload commodity groups that AAR tracks every week posted an increase. They included chemicals, up 7.7% to 32,425 carloads; grain, up 10.4% to 23,656; and nonmetallic minerals, up 6.1% to 33,124 carloads.

For more information on how Norfolk Southern’s rail solutions can support your business’s growth, visit NorfolkSouthern.com.