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Precision-scheduled railroading (PSR) has been transforming the rail industry for years with its cost-cutting measures and its promise of more efficient operations. The rail carriers implementing these techniques continue to sing PSR's praises in recent calls with analysts.
"We implemented it flawlessly," Norfolk Southern CMO Alan Shaw said in January.
Sticking to the principals of PSR will allow railroads to handle large volume swings without using more equipment, Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz said in February.
Even more recently, Kansas City Southern (KCS) stated the principals of PSR will help it to weather the coronavirus and its impact on the rail industry. The work done with PSR has put the company "in just outstanding position to respond to this latest extraneous curveball that we've been dealing with and the rapidly changing business environment as put us very much on our toes," CEO Pat Ottensmeyer said on the company's earnings call last week.
Shippers have been skeptical of the transition to PSR, though, which has required them to transition their operations to comply with the railroad's schedule.