Surface Transportation Logistics with PLG
PLG’s Rail Consulting Solutions help you meet your customer demands
For over 20 years, PLG Consulting has been providing expert rail logistics, design, operations, and strategy consulting for a wide range of clients. We have the most experienced team in the field of freight rail consulting. Our know-how covers all aspects of rail transportation including commercial operations, engineering and design, costing, feasibility analysis, and economics.
PLG Consulting is dedicated to delivering breakthrough results and sustainable growth for rail shippers, railroads, and investors.
Who We Serve
Railroads
Rail Shippers
Investors
Our Services
COMPREHENSIVE RAIL ASSESSMENTS
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.
INDUSTRY BENCHMARKING
Through industry benchmarking, PLG provides your business with insights through ‘Voice of the Customer’ research. We thoroughly analyze products, markets, and competitors to identify opportunities for future growth while remaining competitive and optimizing position.
RAILCAR FLEET OPTIMIZATION
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.
LOGISTICS PROCUREMENT
Leverage PLG’s expertise to create a winning business strategy and positioning with rail carriers. We analyze rail rates, commodity markets, and competitor pricing to ensure your operations are efficient and sustainable. PLG has a track record of negotiating large-scale contracts with confidence to control costs and increase leverage.
SUPPLY CHAIN DESIGN
Site selection mastery combined with rail expertise maximizes upfront investments and supply chain operations. 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.
FAQs
We have numerous experts, including the firm’s founder, who are veterans of several North American Class I railroads. In addition to that background, we also have one of the best rail design engineering teams in the industry as well as numerous experts who have managed the rail supply chains for some of the largest rail shippers in the world.
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. Assisting with the procurement and leasing of thousands of railcars, PLG Consulting helps you get the most out of your rail fleet operations.
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 interfaces with the serving rail carrier(s). Ultimately, we improve your supply chain performance for better outcomes with thorough rail rate analysis and benchmarking.
Select Client List
Project Examples
Rail Renewal Triumph: Navigating Turbulent Markets to Secure Savings and Growth
A leader in paper, liner board, and paperboard recycling, with four rail-served production plants in Canada and 80+ destinations throughout North America, was seeking experienced rail commercial market expertise to help them maximize the outcome of...
Revolutionizing Rail Safety and Efficiency: How a leading chemical manufacturer transformed operations through procedural revisions and employee training standardization
Imagine a colossal coastal chemical company that has been dominating the market for the past three decades, experiencing tremendous growth. As the company expanded, it constructed its own internal railroad network to facilitate the delivery of...
A world-leading chemical producer supplying products to large industrial customers improves competitiveness via comprehensive rail freight negotiation strategy
The Client, a world-leading chemical producer supplying products to large industrial customers, owns a major producing facility that is captive to a single railroad. The challenge was to develop and execute a rail freight negotiations strategy that would...
Major refining company optimizes their logistics strategy via comprehensive railcar fleet assessment
A major petroleum refiner, producing high-value light products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and specialty lubricant products was looking for a comprehensive railcar fleet assessment to understand opportunities for improved efficiencies and cost reductions. Due...
A world-class producer of calcium products sees seven-figure cost reductions
Founded in 1907 and built on one of the world's richest limestone reserves, this client is the most diversified producer of high-quality lime and calcium-based products in North America. With thousands of rail shipments per year,...
International specialty chemical manufacturer gets new rail yard
Client is a chemical manufacturer with a large fleet and multiple third-party tenants. One client facility was experiencing sustained growth, and rail yards were trending towards over-capacity. Client requested assistance with intraplant site selection for a...
