In this interview, Danny Dever, senior product manager for TransmetriQ, highlights rail’s sustainability benefits, cutting fuel use and emissions by up to 75% compared to trucking. He pointed to data showing that shifting 25% of truck freight over 750 miles to rail could reduce emissions by 13.1 million tons annually and explained that railroads are investing in efficient solutions and carbon emission calculators to support grain and feed companies’ sustainability goals.
He also discussed the emerging role of AI and machine learning in rail logistics, like improving ETAs and shipment visibility. Looking ahead, Dever predicts GPS, IoT sensors and automation will enhance efficiency, safety and reliability in agricultural rail transport.
Transcript of Feed & Grain Chat with Danny Dever, senior product manager, TransmetriQ:
Elise Schafer, editor, Feed & Grain: Hi, everyone, and welcome to Feed & Grain Chat. I'm your host Elise Schafer, editor of Feed & Grain. This edition of Feed & Grain Chat is brought to you by WATT Global Media and Feedandgrain.com. Feedandgrain.com is your source for the latest news, product and equipment information for the grain handling and feed manufacturing industries.
Today I'm joined by Danny Dever, senior product manager for TransmetriQ. He's here to highlight sustainable shipping options and share how technology is advancing rail logistics. Hi, Danny. Thanks for joining me today.
Danny Dever, senior product manager, TransmetriQ: Hi, and thanks for having me.
Schafer: Of course. How can shippers leverage rail to support corporate sustainability goals? And can you share any data on the environmental impact of rail?
Dever: Yeah, so shippers obviously can use rail because it is the most fuel-efficient way to move freight in North America or probably everywhere. Every shipment that we can convert from truck to rail probably cuts fuel and related greenhouse gas emissions by up to 75%. Railroads are actively investing in more efficient, environmentally friendly solutions.
Obviously, there's a lot of people out there also building these carbon emission calculators to help shippers and VCOs to understand how much they could save. Some backup info from the Association of American Railroads, like I said, moving the freight by rail can lower the greenhouse emissions by 75% on average. Another analysis done by the AAR found that 25% of the truck traffic moving at least 750 miles went by rail instead truck, the greenhouse emissions would probably fall approximately 13.1 million tons.
And if we did it by 50% of the trucks moving in that same type of mileage, we could approximately reduce it by 26.2 million tons. So, as you can see, the more that we can move from truck to rail, overall, the environment's going to benefit.
Schafer: And how has technology like AI and machine learning being used today to improve efficiency and predictability for rail shippers?
Dever: I can for our organization, we use AI to help with the ETAs. By utilizing all the massive data that we have at our organization, we're able to then help build with machine learning and advanced technologies a better estimated time of arrival for our for our customers. Also, with all of this information, being that there's millions and millions of data points, the ability to use machine learning to help out with inbound data cars coming to a particular shipper, this kind of helps make the operation better.
We also utilize it in in our alerting tools at our organization that help customers understand when something's gone awry, or when there's an exception happening, they can make proactive decisions because the machine has been able to read the information from previous trips to let them know that something is not currently right. So, those are some of the ways that I think that machine learning and AI have helped with the carload and even intermodal space on the railroad.
Schafer: Do you have any advice for companies considering transitioning from truck to rail or intermodal shipping to help navigate that process?
Dever: I do. it First off, it's not going to be as easy as you know, just moving it. There's definitely going to need to be some legwork done. So, you just have to be aware with how rail operates and just make sure that you understand that it's different than trucking and you need to get really familiar with how rail works before you make the decision. Don't underestimate the need for visibility when you're doing it. Obviously with trucks, they all have GPS, right, so that's easier, but there are great sources for visibility on the rail space, too. I think you also probably should maybe invest in an experienced rail partner, somebody that can help you make the transition a little smoother. I would also probably warn you that the ROI isn't going to be immediate. It will get there and obviously you will help save the environment by doing this, but it is not going to happen overnight.
And then in intermodal space, especially when we're talking about the grain and feed area, because they're bulk commodities, you would have to then be able to go to a place and transload it a little differently. Obviously, some of the products don't work inside of intermodal containers as well, so just understanding your constraints.
Schafer: Now looking ahead, what innovations or trends do you see shaping the future of rail transportation for the agricultural industry?
Dever: I do think the GPS and the IoT sensors going on rail cars would definitely be able to help there. That compared and meshed with the car location messages will give them a greater sense of visibility, really kind of let you know what the car is doing, where the car is, and kind of how is it feeling based on the sensors that you have.
And those are the three main things to be able to understand, the ability to know what's coming to you to get loaded, what's going to your customers, and just really keeping your inventory for cars to know those three things. So I think that that's important.
Obviously, we're going to continue to learn and do more AI and machine learning, right? And we're just going to continue to keep evolving that and it's going to keep iterating. And so, I think those will be huge.
I also think the automation of certain rail aspects will be huge. I mean, they're talking about autonomous trains. They're obviously doing some autonomous things at the intermodal facilities today where they have cranes or yard jockeys moving things around without people in them. So, I think those automated things will obviously keep happening and will help with the industry. And all that really gets down to the safety and reliability and efficiencies, right? I think that's what everybody's trying to do. So, I think technology is going to continue to support those things.
Schafer: Well, I know our viewers will be looking forward to those advancements. Thank you so much for sharing your insights with me today, Danny.
Dever: Yeah, thank you thank you for having me. And I appreciate it and hope somebody gets some value out of it.
Schafer: Absolutely. That's all for today's Feed and Grain Chat. If you'd like to see more videos like this, subscribe to our YouTube channel, sign up for the Industry Watch daily eNewsletter, or go to feedandgrain.com and search for videos. Thanks again for watching, and we hope to see you next time.