Norfolk Southern's first-quarter earnings report Wednesday gave the railroad the opportunity to publicly defend CEO Alan Shaw's strategy again before investors decide on May 9 whether to back him.

FILE - A CSX freight train pulls through McKeesport, Pa., on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. CSX railroad reported relatively flat fourth-quarter earnings even though it hauled 4% more freight as the economy continued to rebound from last years widespread virus-related shutdowns. – CSX railroad reported relatively flat fourth-quarter earnings even though it hauled 4% more freight as the economy continued to rebound from last year’s widespread virus-related shutdowns. The freight railroad posted revenue of $2.83 billion in the period, also beating Street forecasts. In last year's second quarter, volume fell 20% when many businesses were shut down as officials sought to limit the spread of COVID-19.