Moving the future of freight
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
GEORGIA TRADE AND LOGISTICS
Development, sustainability measures
Industrial development across the NS network remains strong, with over 60 new rail-served projects totaling $ 7.7 billion in investment in 2025.
“ We now have 89 available rail-served industrial development sites across Georgia,” Elkins said.“ Many benefit from our REDI certification program, which accelerates project timelines through rigorous readiness evaluations.”
High-growth sectors include automotive and electric vehicle supply chain, metals and advanced manufacturing, paper and packaging, and aggregates and construction materials. Norfolk Southern is also seeing increased interest in port-adjacent corridors and inland logistics nodes.
Ports throughout Georgia and their partners across all modes are committed to sustainable development and corporate responsibility.
GPA reduced greenhouse gas emissions per container by nearly 17 % in 2024, driven by electric and hybrid cargohandling equipment, Fulford noted. Norfolk Southern is making similar progress.
“ We completed our 1,000th DC-to- AC locomotive conversion, significantly improving fuel efficiency,” Elkins said,“ and reduced derailment accident rates by 52 % since 2022.”
The railroad’ s new RailGreen program also helps customers quantify emissions reductions and choose cleaner transportation options.
Revving up
Elkins sees Georgia as“ the economic engine of the Southeast,” with freight demand expected to nearly double over the next decade.
“ Georgia’ s logistics future will depend on scalable, sustainable, resilient infrastructure— and rail is uniquely positioned to deliver it,” he said.
Fulford echoed the sentiment, emphasizing GPA’ s long-term investments in berths, cranes, rail and inland connectivity.
Together, Georgia’ s key freight players are building a logistics ecosystem designed for the next era of global commerce, one that is bigger and better as defined by speed, resiliency and global reach. n
email: lori. musser @ att. net
Moving the future of freight
Headquartered in Atlanta, Norfolk Southern operates a 19,200-mile network that powers the economy across 22 states and the District of Columbia. With nearly 200 years of history, it remains a driving force in American commerce and continues to shape what’ s next. From agriculture and raw materials to consumer goods and automobiles, Norfolk Southern connects industries to the markets they need to thrive. Its rail infrastructure links the Southeast, Midwest and Eastern seaboard, with connections to every major port on the East Coast, making Norfolk Southern a vital link in global supply chains.
Driving intermodal growth
Norfolk Southern leads the fast-growing intermodal segment. Strategically located terminals and partnerships connect rail with trucking and maritime transport, creating seamless door-to-door solutions. The result: lower costs, improved reliability, reduced emissions and the flexibility modern supply chains demand. locomotives, fuel-saving technologies and precision-scheduled railroading help reduce emissions, improve efficiency and reinforce rail’ s role as the most sustainable way to move freight.
Powering progress with people
The heart of Norfolk Southern is its people. More than 19,000 employees move the railroad forward as problem solvers, innovators and community partners. From grain and coal to cars and consumer goods, they keep America’ s economy moving, one shipment at a time.
Keeping the future on track
In a marketplace defined by change, Norfolk Southern offers stability, scale and forward-thinking solutions to help customers compete and thrive. With nearly two centuries behind it, Norfolk Southern continues to build the future of freight. n
Delivering reliable service and safety
Norfolk Southern delivers dependable, high-quality service customers can rely on. That commitment extends to the most critical measure: safety. By investing in advanced technology, rigorous training and an operations-first culture, Norfolk Southern ensures that employees, communities and customers can count on safe, secure transportation.
Leading the way in sustainable growth Norfolk Southern invests in infrastructure, technology and sustainability to meet evolving customer expectations. Modern
70 Journal of Commerce | March 2, 2026 www. joc. com