Knight-Swift backs Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern rail merger

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (NYSE: KNX) announced its support for a proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Corporation, according to a company statement.

The trucking company said the merger would create what it described as the first coast-to-coast railroad by combining Western and Eastern rail networks. Knight-Swift stated this would enable single-line service across the country for intermodal transportation.

"This is a significant breakthrough in U.S. freight transportation," said Adam Miller, CEO of Knight-Swift Transportation. "By knitting together a coast-to-coast rail network, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are creating new efficiencies that will benefit everyone."

Knight-Swift operates what it calls the nation's largest full-truckload carrier fleet. The company said the merged railroad would allow freight to remain on one rail line from origin to destination, eliminating what it termed handoff delays between separate railroads.

The Phoenix-based company stated it plans to leverage the merged railroad to offer new coast-to-coast services combining rail efficiency with trucking flexibility. Knight-Swift said it expects more shippers moving goods coast-to-coast will use intermodal options if service becomes simpler and transit times improve.

Miller added that the merger aligns with Knight-Swift's stated mission of delivering cost-effective and environmentally responsible freight solutions. The company operates both truck fleets and intermodal operations across the United States and Mexico.

The information comes from a Knight-Swift Transportation press release statement.

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