BNSF looks to software system to cut fuel costs

BNSF looks to software system to cut fuel costs The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. said Thursday it has shifted to a new fuel management system that will reduce the firm's overall fuel costs.
   The system is a product of Houston-based FuelQuest, an on-demand software and services company for the downstream energy industry.
   According to the railroad, which purchases 1.5 billion gallons of fuel a year, the new system will provide greater visibility into fuel market pricing, local postings and contract calculations. The goal of implementing the system is to improve controls and maximize the firm's efficiency through streamlining operations, reducing paperwork and maximizing employee value.
   “With volatility high and fuel prices at a premium, BNSF is looking for every possibility to reduce our overall fuel spend, and a key objective is ensuring that fuel contract pricing is strictly adhered to,” said Casey Gourley, director of fuel management for BNSF.
   A subsidiary of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., BNSF Railway Co. operates a North American rail network of about 32,000 route miles in 28 states and two Canadian provinces.