Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Combination:  Voices of Support

“As a fourth-generation trucking executive, I’ve seen our industry evolve from my great-grandfather’s Model T to today’s Intermodal networks. A seamless coastto-coast rail carrier is something we’ve dreamed about for years. This merger lets us combine the best of rail and trucking — moving freight farther with less fuel and fewer emissions, then delivering the last mile by truck. It means faster transit, greater capacity, and lower costs. For our customers, that translates to improved supply chain efficiency and savings we can pass on to consumers. It’s better for our business, our customers, and the country.”

Zach England, Chief Operating Officer of C.R. England

“This merger will simplify our supply chain from origin to destination, reducing handoffs and transit time for the ethanol, renewable diesel, and other clean fuels we handle. Fewer bottlenecks and more direct routes translate to lower costs and a smaller carbon footprint for our operations. In my 28 years in rail and logistics, I’ve learned that greater network connectivity means better service - and that’s exactly what this delivers. We fully support the UP-NS merger and look forward to leveraging a coast-to-coast railroad to provide even better, more efficient service to our customers in the energy sector.”

Bill Swan, President of Green Energy Midstream

“Instead of relying on foreign competitors or overburdened highways, America will now have a seamless coast-to-coast rail system capable of moving steel, timber, petrochemicals, and grain with greater speed and lower cost. This is how you rebuild an industrial economy—by connecting producers directly to customers across the country, without bottlenecks or foreign interference.”

Lousiana Policy Review

“We wholeheartedly support this merger and the vision of a truly transcontinental railroad,” said Frank Vingerhoets, President of Katoen Natie North America. “Union Pacific’s strong Gulf Coast network has long been the backbone of our petrochemical logistics operations. Linking that network directly with Norfolk Southern’s East Coast routes will create unprecedented efficiencies. It means the plastic pellets and other products we handle can reach key markets faster and more seamlessly than ever. In short, it’s a win for shippers and for the entire supply chain.”

Frank Vingerhoets, President of Katoen Natie North America

“Today, we can say with confidence that the biggest railroad and the biggest rail union in America are breaking new ground. We are protecting jobs, protecting families, and protecting the future of the U.S. supply chain…This is a bold agreement, and I’m proud of the mutually beneficial work done here and what Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, and SMART-TD were able to accomplish.”

Jeremy R. Ferguson, President of SMART-TD

“This is a significant breakthrough in U.S. freight transportation. By knitting together a coast-to-coast rail network, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are creating new efficiencies that will benefit everyone – from logistics providers like us, to our customers, to the end consumers. As a company that operates thousands of trucks and thousands of intermodal containers, we know the power of combining modes. This unified rail system will let us seamlessly integrate our trucking with rail on cross-country shipments like never before. The result will be faster deliveries, and lower fuel usage, which is great news for American businesses.”

Adam Miller, CEO of Knight-Swift Transportation

“These delays across the country are not minor technical issues. They are economic drag. Freight sits idle while transferring between carriers. Aging infrastructure and poor coordination can make it worse. Costs rise for manufacturers, retailers, and ultimately, American families. The solution is straightforward. Streamline the system. That could mean strategic mergers, like has been proposed by UP and NS in their merger that will create the first transcontinental railroad in our country, targeted infrastructure upgrades, or both. The goal is simple: move goods faster, more reliably, and more affordably. This is not a partisan issue. It is an economic necessity. Every day America waits is a day lost in competitiveness and efficiency. It is time to update our freight rail system for the needs of the 21st century. The economy cannot wait, and neither can the people who rely on it.”

George Landrith, President of Frontiers of Freedom Institute

“It’s only fitting that America’s largest railroad, Union Pacific, joins forces with Norfolk Southern to become exactly what our country needs to compete—and win— for every American citizen. By design, the UP–NS combination will deliver all of that—reviving American manufacturing, creating high-quality careers, and using commerce as a powerful conduit to connect people like never before.”

Dave Fellon, President and Owner of Progressive Rail, Inc.