Features Breakbulk & Project Cargo
“ The AI data centers just absolutely changed everyone’ s perspectives very quickly,” he said.“ I think it caught a lot of people off guard just how quickly the demand for electricity is increasing.”
Davenport said the slowdown of the US wind power market, which relies on a high volume of rail cars to move turbines and other project cargo, has freed up some rail capacity to accommodate fossil fuel-based energy project equipment, at least for now.
“ But if that were to pick up, that could make this entire situation even more challenging,” he said.
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Cascading delays
When it comes to transporting power generation project cargo and other heavy and oversized pieces, Davenport said rail is the“ go-to” mode of transportation for any equipment that’ s too big to fit on a truck.
But if there’ s no rail car available when a vessel carrying the cargo arrives at port, the pieces must to be put onto a trailer and into storage. Then, when a rail car does become available, the cargo needs to be moved again, triggering additional costs and schedule delays.
June 2026 | Journal of Commerce 15