Optimizing Rail Shipments for Commodity Transactions

A system for optimization of at least one previously established rail shipment of a commodity, comprising:

• a memory component configured to store at least the following:
• receiving logic configured to receive data related to a first previously established rail shipment, the first previously established rail shipment including a first origin and a first destination, the first previously established rail shipment being established by a first supplier;
• first determining logic configured to determine whether exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment that is established by a second supplier will result in greater efficiency for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier, the second previously established rail shipment including a second origin and a second destination;
• and
• exchanging logic configured to, in response to a determination that exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with the second previously established rail shipment will result in greater efficiency for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier, exchange at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with the second previously established rail shipment such that the first supplier facilitates shipment of commodities from the first origin to the second destination and the second supplier facilitates shipment of commodities from the second origin to the first destination.

A computer-readable storage medium for optimization of at least one previously established rail shipment of a commodity that stores a computer program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform at least the following:

• receive data related to a first previously established rail shipment, the first previously established rail shipment including a first origin and a first destination, the first previously established rail shipment being established by a first supplier;
• determine whether exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment established by a second supplier will result in lower shipment costs for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier, the second previously established rail shipment including a second origin and a second destination;
• and
• in response to a determination that exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with the second previously established rail shipment will result in lower shipment costs for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier, exchange at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with the second previously established rail shipment such that the first supplier facilitates shipment of commodities from the first origin to the second destination and the second supplier facilitates shipment of commodities from the second origin to the first destination.