Union Pacific sees Metrics Slip in Wake of Crew Shortages

Freight hauler Union Pacific has reported a slip in its key service metrics, believed to be driven by crew shortages and a tunnel collapse.

According to sources, the company is recruiting heavily to alleviate lack of manpower, but lack of worker supply is making it difficult. The large amount of vacations taken during the summer months are also exacerbating the problem. Union Pacific held up 65 trains due to a lack of crews for the week ending on June 22.

A May 29 tunnel collapse in Oregon has also created issues. Re-routing trains led to increases of up to five days of delivery time.