MODE Global Welcomes Union Pacific – Norfolk Southern Merger; Sees Major Benefit for Intermodal and Shippers
DALLAS, TEXAS (August 19, 2025) – MODE Global, one of North America’s largest non-asset intermodal logistics providers, today announced its support for the proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Corporation.
This historic combination will create the first coast-to-coast freight railroad in U.S. history – a unified network spanning over 50,000 miles of track across 43 states. MODE Global believes the merger will open up unprecedented opportunities to shift long-haul freight from highway to rail, improving efficiency for shippers and reducing transportation costs across the economy.
By eliminating costly interchange handoffs between separate railroads, a combined Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern system will enable seamless single-line service from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Transit times on cross-country routes are expected to drop, making rail more competitive for loads that previously moved exclusively by truck. MODE Global anticipates that this enhanced intermodal connectivity will allow many truck shipments to convert to rail, delivering savings in fuel and labor and easing congestion on the nation’s highways. Those efficiencies can then translate into lower logistics costs for U.S. businesses and ultimately lower prices for consumers. Through MODE’s proprietary MODE VPO platform, the company is able to analyze customer data and provide strategic analysis showing mode conversion opportunities that drive carbon emission and cost savings.
Lance Malesh, President and CEO of MODE Global, praised the merger’s potential: “Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern joining forces is tremendous news for intermodal transportation. As an intermodal marketing company, MODE Global looks forward to converting even more long-haul truck freight to rail thanks to this coast-to-coast network. The improved transit times and single-carrier service will mean faster, more reliable deliveries for our customers and lower shipping costs for beneficial cargo owners. Ultimately, those savings will benefit the entire American economy – when shippers save, consumers do too. We fully support this merger and hope to see it approved, because it will make freight transport cheaper and better for everyone.”
MODE Global is confident the unified rail network will bring sustainable, long-term improvements to U.S. supply chains. The company is ready to partner with the combined railroad to help shippers capitalize on new intermodal service offerings, driving growth and efficiency that cascades from carrier to customer to end consumer.