Logistics

Norfolk Southern Corp. said its third-quarter profit increased 47% from a year ago.

Canadian National Railway Co. said its third-quarter net income rose 21% to C$556 million, or C$1.19 per share, from C$461 million or 97 cents per share, a year earlier.

The intermodal business is making a solid contribution to third-quarter rail profits, as volumes remain strong through the fall peak season for domestic freight, industry officials said.

Union Pacific Corp. said Thursday its third-quarter net income rose 51% compared with the same quarter last year, to $778 million, or $1.56 a share.

Forward Air Corp. said late Wednesday its third-quarter net income rose to $8.9 million, or 31 cents per share, from $3.8 million, or 13 cents, a year ago.

Logistics and intermodal firm Hub Group’s third-quarter profit jumped 28.3% to $12.6 million, or 34 cents a share, from $9.8 million, or 26 cents, a year ago.

Truckers and other carriers are reporting a seasonal pickup in freight volumes this fall that is in sharp contrast to 2009, when the recession ravaged cargo volumes, experts said.

Drayage carriers said they are pressing ocean cargo lines for more details about plans to make truckers responsible for supplying intermodal chassis.

Greatwide Logistics Services said Oct. 7 it has substantially increased the operations capacity and capabilities of its transportation operations center by implementing new software programs.

Intermodal traffic rose 13.1% compared with last year in the week ended Saturday, the Association of American Railroads said.