Rail

For rail carriers, PLG Consulting is the go-to expert resource for:

• Market Analysis:  We have helped railroads of all sizes understand commodity markets and develop strategies for growth.
• Economic due diligence:  Whether for acquisitions or divestitures, PLG Consulting helps carriers assess franchise strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities across terminals and line segments.

For some of the largest rail shippers in North America, PLG Consulting has helped optimize the use of rail across a broad range of rail-centric commodities including bulk materials, chemicals, minerals, energy products, and manufactured goods. Our range of rail consulting services for shippers includes:

Transportation procurement:  Utilizing our specific and unique experience and expertise, we have conducted thorough rail rate analysis and benchmarking to help shipper clients negotiate billions of dollars’ worth of rail transportation contracts, ensuring the long-term economic viability of production sites as well as competitive freight rates to end-use destinations.

• PLG Consulting’s unique strength is the ability to develop multiple mode and carrier competitive options for shipper clients while cultivating “win-win” long term relationships between our shipper clients and rail carriers.

Rail design and engineering for plant sites: PLG Consulting optimizes existing in-plant rail operations, from physical infrastructure to rail management technology systems to locomotive assets and operating plans. We also develop rail layout and operating plans for new manufacturing sites as part of our site selection services.

• In every rail design and engineering project we always ensure that the design comes with a highly efficient operating plan. Those operating plans also include successful commercial and operational interface with the serving rail carrier(s).

Railcar fleet asset optimization and management: Assisting with the procurement and leasing of thousands of railcars, PLG Consulting helps you get the most out of your rail fleet operations. We have helped with commercial RFPs, mechanical specifications, pre-lease inspections, ad valorem reporting, fleet sizing, railcar storage, and technology systems for the efficient use of assets.

• Understanding a shipper’s end-to-end supply chain is critical in right-sizing railcar fleets to account for a myriad of variables, including cycle times, inventory requirements, railroad vs. shipper-supplied equipment, and railcar mechanical specifications.

For rail industry investors, PLG Consulting’s strong rail consulting track record includes:

• Due Diligence: Acquisition due diligence services on carriers, service providers, component providers, and asset builders and lessors.
• Market Analysis: Market feasibility analysis for new freight rail investments in both Due diligence on acquisitions and service providers, including safety/security risk analysis and post-transaction mitigation initiatives