CHICAGO, IL – October 20, 2026 –  FTR and Railroad Financial Corporation (RFC) will bring together leading economists, rail industry executives, and transportation and financial professionals for two days of data-driven education and market intelligence in Houston, Texas, November 9–10, 2026.

On November 9, RFC and FTR will jointly present the Chemical Cars & Capital Forum, followed by FTR’s 2026 State of Freight: Chemicals and Petroleum Symposium on November 10.

With shifting freight demand, equipment availability, and financing conditions shaping the industry, both events will provide the facts, forecasts, and expert perspectives needed to make informed decisions for 2027 and beyond. Participants will benefit from:

•       Market Intelligence: Data-driven forecasts covering freight demand, rail equipment, and financial markets.
•       Expert Perspectives: Insights from leading economists, manufacturers, and industry executives.
•       Actionable Strategies: Guidance on leasing, procurement, fleet planning, and investment decisions.
•       Industry Connections: Opportunities to engage with experts and network with peers.

Attendees registering for both events receive a $100 discount on combined registration.

Register for One or Both Events

November 9, 2026
Chemical Cars and Capital Forum

Presented by Railroad Financial Corporation (RFC) and FTR, this one-day forum brings together FTR’s economists and rail analysts alongside RFC’s rail finance experts to help attendees better understand the economic, operational, and financial factors shaping the railcar market. Through data-driven analysis and expert discussion, participants will gain the insights needed to make more informed fleet planning, leasing, and capital investment decisions for 2027 and beyond.

Featured Sessions

Chemical Keynote Speaker
Martha Gilchrist Moore, Chief Economist & Managing Director, Economics & Statistics, American Chemistry Council

Chemicals output relies on feedstocks, and those feedstocks have been hit hard by global disruptions in 2026. Despite the headwinds, the domestic market still has solid pockets of strength. Gain insights from economist Martha Moore on how this market has operated during the course of the last year, and how well it is positioned for growth in the future.

Railcar Executive Q&A: A Builder’s-Eye View of Supply, Pricing, and Timing
Eric Marchetto, CFO, TrinityRail
David Nahass, President, Railroad Financial Corporation
Will Geiger, Senior VP, Railroad Financial Corporation 

The people who build the cars see the supply-and-pricing picture before it reaches your order book. If your 2027 plan depends on when cars are available and what they’ll cost, this is the seat closest to that answer. Eric Marchetto of TrinityRail joins Will and David for an open Q&A on the railcar manufacturing and leasing market — where build capacity, pricing, and lead times are heading.

The State of the Rail Economy: A Supply Chain Executive Perspective
Scott Campbell, Global VP Supply Chain, LyondellBasell
David Nahass, President, Railroad Financial Corporation
Will Geiger, Senior VP, Railroad Financial Corporation

Join senior industry executives for an interactive Q&A examining the current state of logistics, railcar markets, and equipment leasing from a chemical industry perspective.

See the full agenda for Chemical Cars and Capital Forum.

November 10, 2026
Chemicals and Petroleum Symposium

The 2026 FTR State of Freight: Chemicals and Petroleum Symposium brings together FTR’s economists and transportation experts to connect the dots between the economy, commodity demand, procurement, equipment availability, and freight capacity. Whether you’re moving crude oil, petrochemicals, plastics, fertilizers, or related commodities, you’ll leave with the forecasts and market intelligence needed to build more confident sourcing, budgeting, and transportation strategies for the year ahead.

Throughout the day, you’ll gain a comprehensive view of the factors shaping the chemicals and petroleum transportation market. Sessions will explore the economic demand signals driving freight, the procurement outlook for specialized transportation equipment and capacity, the impact of tariffs and shifting trade flows on supply chains, and the implications for your 2027 planning. You’ll also connect with industry peers and engage directly with FTR’s analysts during an interactive Q&A to get your questions answered. 

Featured Sessions

Demand Signals in the US Economy: 2027 Chemical and Petroleum Market Outlooks
Jonathan Starks, CEO, FTR
Eric Starks, Chairman, FTR

The economy generates freight, but freight is just the downstream echo of demand for what you make and move. Before locking next year’s plan, join FTR’s Jonathan Starks and Eric Starks for a clear read on where industrial production, consumer spending, and global demand are heading. This session can shape your sourcing, inventory, and capacity decisions, not just your transportation budget.

2027 Procurement Outlook
Avery Vise, VP of Trucking, FTR
Joseph Towers, Senior Analyst – Rail, FTR

One connected view of the market you procure against. Avery and Joseph expand on the demand outlook for crude oil, plastics, fertilizers, petrochemicals, and organics, then walk the chain that follows: how those volumes translate into capacity, where rates are heading, and whether the specialized capacity and equipment your product depends on — tank and covered hopper railcars, dry and liquid tank trailers — will actually be there when you need it. FTR’s analysis includes data pulled directly from the equipment producers in rail and truck, helping transportation buyers/sellers see the full picture of the supply and demand equilibrium and build a more precise 2027 budget for your team.

See the full agenda for Chemicals and Petroleum Symposium.

About Railroad Financial Corporation (RFC)

Founded in 1989, Railroad Financial Corporation (RFC) is a financial advisory firm dedicated exclusively to the rail equipment industry. With more than 35 years of experience and $30 billion in represented transactions, RFC specializes in equipment finance, new railcar procurement, fleet evaluation and restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic asset sales.

RFC is also committed to industry education and thought leadership. President David Nahass serves as Financial Editor of Railway Age and authors the annual Railroad Financial Desk Book. The firm plays a longstanding leadership role in the Rail Equipment Finance (REF) Conference. Learn more at railroadfinancial.com. 

About FTR
For more than 30 years, FTR has served as the industry leader in freight transportation forecasting for the shipping, trucking, rail, intermodal, equipment, and financial communities in North America. FTR’s experts, with over 250 years of combined experience in the transportation industry, provide quantitative analysis with historical and modal-specific insights. FTR’s reports, data, commentary, and insights help clients evaluate market risks, identify new opportunities, and make informed decisions.

FTR is the only company with a complete set of freight data for all modes of transportation with detail at the 3 Digit STCC commodity level. FTR tracks and forecasts 200+ unique commodity groups both quarterly and annually using their proprietary Freight•cast U.S. freight transportation model. To learn more about FTR visit FTRintel.com. To contact FTR, call 888-988-1699 or email info@ftrintel.com.

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For More Information, Contact:
Sarah Frye, Marketing & PR
Railroad Financial Corporation (RFC)
513-520-1958