BNSF, SWIFT OFFER JOINT INTERMODAL PERISHABLES SERVICE

BNSF, SWIFT OFFER JOINT INTERMODAL PERISHABLES SERVICE    Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co. and Swift Transportation Co. Inc. said Tuesday they will begin providing seamless transportation services for temperature-controlled commodities moving between the U.S. West Coast, Midwest and Southeast.
   BNSF, the Fort Worth, Texas-based railroad, will provide boxcar transportation for long-haul moves, while SWIFT, the big Phoenix-based motor carrier, will provide over-the-road transportation for short-haul moves. Both companies will coordinate transloading and cross-dock moves.
   'Today, many shippers are hesitant to use a rail/truck transportation package because of the complexity of having to coordinate with multiple parties,' said Chuck Schultz, BNSF executive vice president and chief marketing officer. 'We hope to make the transportation process seamless by providing one point of contact to make bi-modal shipping easier and more economical.'
   Jerry Moyes, SWIFT chairman and chief executive officer, said 'This new offering is an extension of the programs that we presently operate with BNSF; namely our intermodal service between the Midwest, Texas and the West Coast, and our I-5 RoadRailer train operating between Los Angeles and Portland, Ore.'
   Moyes said the new service will not require additional expenditures by SWIFT. The company provides a fleet of 530 refrigerated trailers.
   The companies will consider expanding their service offerings into other areas, Schultz said.