According to Reuters, CSX says the U.S. economy is on track for continued gradual recovery while international demand escalates, pointing to another year of robust shipments and core pricing gains for the railroad.
The railroad’s CEO Michael Ward said in an interview with Reuters: “We’re seeing continued strength in the economy. We’re feeling it’s not anything dramatic, but it’s going to be a continual gradual recovery that we’ve seen the last six or seven quarters.”
CSX expects its carload volume to surpass gross domestic product and industrial production growth this year, and core pricing gains to exceed rail inflation.
The company plans on hiring 2,900 union workers this year, though mostly to replace an expected 2,500 jobs lost to attrition.