There are approximately 630 freight companies in the U.S., known as regional and short lines (Class II and III, respectively).
The Great Seven
U.S. freight railroads are almost entirely privately owned and, unlike trucks and river barges, operate on the infrastructure they own, build, maintain and pay for themselves.
Advantages of the US freight railroad
In the United States, we are fortunate to enjoy many of the benefits of our first-class rail freight transportation network.