Tag: Sharp & Fellows

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The Shipping King

And the perpetual relevance of the railroad

The railroad has been chugging along for over 200 years with no signs of stopping. It has persisted through centuries of vast advancements in engineering and infrastructure. Like all mechanical technologies, it has seen its fair share of minor improvements and adjustments. When it comes down to it, the railroad’s basic functionality has remained hardly untouched, making it a true industrial marvel.

It is still as significant as ever. In today’s increasingly connected world, global and nationwide shipping has greatly amplified. More resources and goods are being sent to more places than ever before. The railroad has adapted to this influx rather easily, re-demonstrating its worth to a variety of industries. Here are two huge reasons why the railroad has remained viable over time.

A cost effective technology

From a financial standpoint, it’s in a business’s best interest to utilize the railroad for shipping purposes. Trucking is another popular option, however when stacked up against the railroad, there is no comparison. Trucking’s reliability on fuel hinders its efficiency. Especially nowadays, where fuel prices fluctuate so sporadically, it doesn’t make for a good investment. Railroads, and the trains that roll on them, aren’t subject to such ebb and flow, allowing many train operators to keep fees competitive.

The sustainability of the railroad

Labor is another huge factor when it comes to illustrating the cost-effectiveness of the railroad. Trains don’t require many operators to pull its linked trucks, which at times can reach 100+. This keeps labor costs down, providing train operators with financial flexibility. This is pertinent considering that labor expenses extend beyond paying workers. It also alleviates the time employers spend on working with the government, either filing paperwork or paying payroll taxes.

Keeping the railroad industry strong

To keep it chugging for another 200 years, extra attention must be given to the railroad. The entities that oversee railroads must be on top of maintenance, lubrication, and inspection. Just as opportunities for new railroad routes and tracks must be taken advantage of. The technology has proven to be a financially and mechanically sound means of shipping, one that performs a great deal while wasting very little. To not foster the continued success of the railroad is to not promote effective growth. We at Sharp & Fellows have been singing the praises of the railroad for over 130 years and will not let the railroad fall behind. Visit our website or call (310)-323-7784 for more information!

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JOBS AND THE RAILROAD


 

The two are invariably linked

The following is information on how infrastructure, especially the railroad, is brimming with employment opportunities. How boosting infrastructure endeavors, more specifically efforts related to the railroad, can revive and sustain local and regional economies.

Unemployment and the economy

Jobs have always been a hot topic throughout the world. Discussions about unemployment, job creation, and other various labor statistics occur every day. Justifiably so, people rely on work to pay their bills and feed their families. Without jobs, it’s not just the unemployed that suffer. All households feel the effect of joblessness as local and regional economies tend to take a dip as well.

It’s important to find reliable sources of work and to invest in them. By continuously putting money into industries with a lot of work, a steady flow of jobs are created and economies suffer less. One such industry is infrastructure. Conceptualization, design, management, construction – it is a haven for both blue and white collar work. Putting money into infrastructure does wonders for local and regional economies worldwide.

Infrastructure, the answer

Infrastructure is important for the obvious reasons. When roads, bridges, railroads, and other structures & facilities are built, economies grow, communities flourish, and people work. It has become apparent through the recent economic woes that we need to better our infrastructure. And not just to patch up some silly crack, but to employ Americans.

The railroad is the epitome of infrastructure. Its construction is an economic boon when it creates jobs. And once completed, it continues to contribute to the economy by transporting goods, the railroad’s fundamental role. This ensures that businesses are actively functioning. As they continue to prosper, and railroads continues to operate, jobs become available in both sectors. In short, more railroads, means more business, means more money, means more expansion, resulting in – you guessed it, more work.

Supporting the railroad means supporting growth

Reinforcing the continued progress of the railroad is very important. If railroad tracks are a part of your jurisdiction, having the tracks revamped, rerouted, or restored needs to be considered. The effect of such a project would be economically positive and widespread. Sharp & Fellows is the firm to call when it’s time to get these projects going. We’ve been in business for 130 years and understand the importance of the railroad. We’re more than ready to help!

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STAYING ON TRACK, THE ADVANTAGES OF RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION

Keeps the commerce of countries rolling

Even in today’s highly technological world, country’s still rely on the power of railway transport for a constant flux of trade, industry, and commerce. For a gamut of reasons, the largely mechanical railroad has remained integral to these three facets. Following is an elucidation of these reasons, and how they have correlated to the prosperity of nations for over 500 years.

Leaves motor vehicles in the dust

The locomotive is able to achieve the same duties as an automobile, but in a greater capacity. Rather, the automobile can achieve the same duties of a locomotive, but in a far lesser capacity. Trains travel further distances than cars, at an exponentially faster rate. In addition, they haul more cargo in one fell swoop than a car ever could; materials, goods, people, livestock, etc.

Always on track

It’s hard to lose a train. They operate on railway tracks. One can assume with great certainty that if a train is set to travel from point A to point B, it will arrive. Although there are ways in which a train can be delayed, the odds of traffic, accidents, or weather seriously inhibiting its trajectory are slim. For the most part, there is only two ways a train can go, forward or backwards. So if isn’t heading towards you, it will be soon.

Industrialization

One of the more invariably essential duties of a train and railway, the speedy mobilization of raw materials is cheaper and faster on the tracks. As a bulk of raw materials reach their destinations more frequently, businesses far and wide can do what they do and contribute to their respective economies. First world countries need trains to maintain their highly productive trade industries. Developing countries need them to stimulate and foster an emerging trade presence.

Railroads and the companies that run them are still very relevant. It’s important that the infrastructure they manage is maintained and functioning optimally. For the professional construction, maintenance, and design services that over 40 clients trust, look no further than industry leaders, Sharp & Fellows. We’ve collected over 130 years of experience and understand the importance of the railway. It is a remarkably important institution and our knowledgeable engineers continuously work towards perfecting and preserving that institution. Visit our website or call (310)-323-7784 for more information.