Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Background

CSX Corporation together with its subsidiaries ("CSX" or the “Company”), based in Jacksonville, Florida, is one of the nation's leading transportation companies. The Company provides rail-based transportation services including traditional rail service, the transport of intermodal containers and trailers, as well as other transportation services such as rail-to-truck transfers and bulk commodity operations.

    CSX's principal operating subsidiary, CSX Transportation, Inc. (“CSXT”), provides an important link to the transportation supply chain through its approximately 19,500 route mile rail network, which serves major population centers in 23 states east of the Mississippi River, the District of Columbia and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The Company's intermodal business links customers to railroads via trucks and terminals.

CSXT is also responsible for the Company's real estate sales, leasing, acquisition and management and development activities. Substantially all of these activities are focused on supporting railroad operations.

Other entities

    In addition to CSXT, the Company’s subsidiaries include CSX Intermodal Terminals, Inc. (“CSX Intermodal Terminals”), Total Distribution Services, Inc. (“TDSI”), Transflo Terminal Services, Inc. (“Transflo”), CSX Technology, Inc. (“CSX Technology”) and other subsidiaries. CSX Intermodal Terminals owns and operates a system of intermodal terminals, predominantly in the eastern United States and also performs drayage services (the pickup and delivery of intermodal shipments) for certain customers. TDSI serves the automotive industry with distribution centers and storage locations. Transflo connects non-rail served customers to the many benefits of rail by transferring products from rail to trucks. The biggest Transflo markets are chemicals and agriculture, which includes shipments of plastics and ethanol. CSX Technology and other subsidiaries provide support services for the Company.

Acquisition of Pan Am Systems, Inc.

On November 30, 2020, CSX signed a definitive agreement to acquire Pan Am Systems, Inc. (“Pan Am”) and certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates, which own and operate a highly integrated, nearly 1,200-mile rail network and have a partial interest in the more than 600-mile Pan Am Southern system. This acquisition, if approved, will expand CSX’s reach in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts while adding Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to its existing network. On February 25, 2021, the Company began the process, which can take up to a year or more, of seeking approval from the Surface Transportation Board.

NOTE 1.    Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, continued

Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements contain all normal, recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Where applicable, prior year information has been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), certain information and disclosures normally included in the notes to the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been omitted from these interim financial statements. CSX suggests that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes included in CSX's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed current reports on Form 8-K.

Fiscal Year

The Company's fiscal periods are based upon the calendar year. Except as otherwise specified, references to “first quarter(s)” or “three months” indicate CSX's fiscal periods ending March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020, and references to "year-end" indicate the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.