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Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies | Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies Business 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 Transportation, Inc. 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. It has access to over 70 ocean, river and lake port terminals along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, the Mississippi River, the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Company’s intermodal business links customers to railroads via trucks and terminals. CSXT also serves thousands of production and distribution facilities through track connections to more than 230 short-line and regional railroads. 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 provides 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 include shipments of plastics and ethanol. CSX Technology and other subsidiaries provide support services for the Company. Acquisition of Pan-Am Railways On November 30, 2020, CSX signed a definitive agreement to acquire Pan Am Railways, Inc. (“Pan Am”) which owns and operates a highly integrated, nearly 1,200-mile rail network and has a partial interest in the more than 600-mile Pan Am Southern system. This will expand CSX’s reach in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts while adding Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to its existing network. A $30 million deposit paid by the Company related to its agreement to acquire Pan Am is included in other investing activities on the consolidated cash flow statement. This transaction remains subject to regulatory review and approval by the Surface Transportation Board. NOTE 1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, continued Lines of Business During 2020, the Company's services generated $10.6 billion of revenue and served three primary lines of business: merchandise, intermodal and coal. •The merchandise business shipped 2.5 million carloads (43 percent of volume) and generated 67 percent of revenue in 2020. The Company’s merchandise business is comprised of shipments in the following diverse markets: chemicals, agricultural and food products, automotive, minerals, forest products, metals and equipment, and fertilizers. •The intermodal business shipped 2.7 million units (46 percent of volume) and generated 16 percent of revenue in 2020. The intermodal business combines the superior economics of rail transportation with the flexibility of trucks and offers a cost and environmental advantage over long-haul trucking. Through a network of approximately 30 terminals, the intermodal business serves all major markets east of the Mississippi River and transports mainly manufactured consumer goods in containers, providing customers with truck-like service for longer shipments. •The coal business shipped 637 thousand carloads (11 percent of volume) and generated 13 percent of revenue in 2020. The Company transports domestic coal, coke and iron ore to electricity-generating power plants, steel manufacturers and industrial plants as well as export coal to deep-water port facilities. Approximately one-quarter to one-third of export coal and the majority of the domestic coal that the Company transports is used for generating electricity or industrial purposes. Other revenue accounted for 4 percent of the Company’s total revenue in 2020. This revenue category includes revenue from regional subsidiary railroads, demurrage, storage at intermodal facilities, revenue for customer volume commitments not met, switching, other incidental charges and adjustments to revenue reserves. Revenue from regional railroads includes shipments by railroads that the Company does not directly operate. Demurrage represents charges assessed when freight cars or other equipment are held beyond a specified period of time. Switching represents charges assessed when a railroad switches cars for a customer or another railroad. Employees The Company's number of employees was nearly 19,300 as of December 2020, which includes approximately 15,700 union employees. Most of the Company’s employees provide or support transportation services. 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 financial position of CSX and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, and the consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018. Where applicable, prior year information has been reclassified to conform to current presentation. In addition, management has evaluated and disclosed all material events occurring subsequent to the date of the financial statements up to the date this annual report is filed on Form 10-K. Fiscal Year The Company's fiscal periods are based upon the calendar year. Except as otherwise specified, references to full years indicate CSX’s fiscal years ended on December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include results of operations of CSX and subsidiaries over which CSX has majority ownership or financial control. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Most investments in companies that were not majority-owned were carried at cost (if less than 20% owned and the Company has no significant influence) or were accounted for under the equity method (if the Company has significant influence but does not have control). These investments are reported within Investment in Affiliates and Other Companies on the consolidated balance sheets. Cash and Cash Equivalents On a daily basis, cash in excess of current operating requirements is invested in various highly liquid investments having a typical maturity date of three months or less at the date of acquisition. These investments are carried at cost, which approximates market value, and are classified as cash equivalents. Investments Investments in instruments with original maturities greater than three months that will mature in less than one year are classified as short-term investments. Investments with original maturities of one year or greater are initially classified within other long-term assets, and the classification is re-evaluated at each balance sheet date. NOTE 1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, continued Materials and Supplies Materials and supplies in the consolidated balance sheets are carried at average cost and consist primarily of parts used in the repair and maintenance of track structure, equipment, and CSXT’s freight car and locomotive fleets, as well as fuel. New Accounting Pronouncements In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which replaces current methods for evaluating impairment of financial instruments not measured at fair value, including trade accounts receivable and certain debt securities, with a current expected credit loss model. CSX was required to adopt this new standard update by January 1, 2020. Adoption did not have a material effect on the Company's results of operations. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans as part of its disclosure effectiveness initiative, which modifies the disclosure requirements for employer-sponsored defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. CSX was required to adopt this new standard update by January 1, 2020. Adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's disclosures. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires that management make estimates in reporting the amounts of certain assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of certain revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates. Critical accounting estimates using management judgment are made for the following areas: •personal injury, environmental and legal reserves (see Note 5, Casualty, Environmental and Other Reserves); •pension and post-retirement medical plan accounting (see Note 9, Employee Benefit Plans); and •depreciation policies for assets under the group-life method (see Note 6, Properties).

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122149 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2197479 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2134479 + Details
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