Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analyst

The Market Research Analyst will play a critical role in supporting the company's strategic growth by analyzing trends, customer needs, and market opportunities in the Rail and Industrial logistics sectors. This position focuses on understanding the freight shipping landscape, identifying service demand among industrial shippers, and providing actionable insights to guide commercial strategy, marketing initiatives, and service development.

This is a new role in our organization, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to help shape the role and its impact.

Key Responsibilities

Market Analysis & Intelligence

Conduct in-depth market research on freight rail market trends, industrial shipper behavior, and logistics industry developments.

Analyze transportation demand, modal shifts, and regional shipping patterns across target industries (e.g., manufacturing, agriculture, chemicals, energy, construction materials).

Track competitor activity, pricing strategies, and service offerings within the rail and logistics sectors.

Evaluate new market opportunities and potential service areas to support network expansion and revenue growth.

Customer & Industry Research

Develop profiles of current and prospective industrial shippers, mapping shipping volumes, rail access points, and logistics requirements.

Conduct surveys, interviews, and data-driven studies to identify customer pain points, satisfaction levels, and emerging needs.

Build and maintain databases of key industrial sites, rail-served facilities, and freight corridors.

Data Analytics & Reporting

Collect, interpret, and visualize transportation and economic data from multiple sources (e.g., STB, AAR, EIA, industry publications, proprietary data).

Produce regular reports, dashboards, and presentations to inform senior management and commercial teams.

Support forecasting models for market demand, pricing, and competitive positioning.

Strategic Support

Collaborate with commercial, operations, and support teams to align research insights with business strategy.

Contribute to business cases for new service offerings, partnerships, or infrastructure investments.

Support proposal development and customer engagement initiatives with data-backed insights.

Qualifications :

Education & Experience :

Bachelor's degree in Economics, Business, Marketing, Logistics, Transportation, Data Analytics, or a related field.

3+ years of experience in market research, logistics analysis, or transportation industry analytics (Rail experience preferred).

Skills & Competencies :

Strong analytical skills with experience using market research tools and data visualization software.

Familiarity with freight transportation data sources and regulatory filings (e.g., Surface Transportation Board data, AAR reports).

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights.

Detail-oriented, organized, and capable of managing multiple research projects simultaneously.

Strong understanding of supply chain logistics, industrial markets, and the economics of rail freight transportation.

Preferred Qualifications :

Experience working with GIS mapping tools (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) for freight corridor or site analysis.

Knowledge of commodity markets relevant to bulk or industrial freight.

Advanced degree (MBA, MS in Transportation, or equivalent) desirable.

Company Profile :

Established in 1987, Road & Rail Services has grown and diversified to become a leading provider of rail related services in North America. Our network of skilled associates provides plant and terminal operating expertise as well as field maintenance of rail assets for railroads, rail shippers, and owners of rail related equipment and facilities.