Rail-served sites aren’t just about transportation—they’re about strategy. Adam Hess of CSX joins Susan Donkers to unpack what companies need to know when evaluating rail access as part of a location decision. With decades of experience and billions in capital investment supported through the CSX Select Site program, Adam shares what separates the contenders from the pretenders. In this episode: --> Who rail really serves well—and who’s better off somewhere else. --> What makes the intermodal network so powerful—and what companies often misunderstand. --> How CSX uses real data, not marketing speak, to validate site readiness. --> The new Gold, Silver, and Bronze designations—and how they help developers benchmark performance. --> Why inbound materials matter more than outbound products in many cases. --> How the CSX site design team removes friction from complex logistics. --> Lessons from Project Skyfall—and how 30 site visits paid off with one big win. Whether you’re working on a heavy industrial deal, evaluating plastics and polymers, or just trying to understand rail’s role in your logistics mix, this conversation breaks it down in clear, actionable terms.
Rail-served sites aren’t just about transportation—they’re about strategy.
Adam Hess of CSX joins Susan Donkers to unpack what companies need to know when evaluating rail access as part of a location decision. With decades of experience and billions in capital investment supported through the CSX Select Site program, Adam shares what separates the contenders from the pretenders.
In this episode:
--> Who rail really serves well—and who’s better off somewhere else.
--> What makes the intermodal network so powerful—and what companies often misunderstand.
--> How CSX uses real data, not marketing speak, to validate site readiness.
--> The new Gold, Silver, and Bronze designations—and how they help developers benchmark performance.
--> Why inbound materials matter more than outbound products in many cases.
--> How the CSX site design team removes friction from complex logistics.
--> Lessons from Project Skyfall—and how 30 site visits paid off with one big win.
Whether you’re working on a heavy industrial deal, evaluating plastics and polymers, or just trying to understand rail’s role in your logistics mix, this conversation breaks it down in clear, actionable terms.