Technology to help increase safety in the railroad industry is constantly progressing. Now, a new software developed here in the River City may offer promise in reducing railcar failure.

Jacksonville-based ShipXpress and SparkCognition recently collaborated to develop predictive analytic software that can pinpoint just when a railcar is apt to break down.

"We already have various sensors to tell about the health of a railcar," ShipXpress Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Raghu Misra recently told reporters with the Jacksonville Business Journal. "Until now, we would just do historical reporting on what the health of the railcar has been. Now, we can start predicting when the railcar is bound to fail. Before it starts its journey, we can put it through our algorithm and based on the current health metrics, see if a car is not going to make it."

The system has been tested and is ready to hit the market, company officials say. It ultimately may be used to help make the trucking industry safer as well.

Here at Rail Justice, we applaud any efforts to help make the railroad industry safer for workers, passengers and others affected. If you have suffered an injury caused by a railroad accident, get medical treatment, report the incident and call 888-519-RAIL to speak with an experienced railroad injury attorney.