This week in Borderlands Mexico: GM, Stellantis drive auto exports to US in February; BNSF Railway breaks ground on $500M logistics center north of Dallas; and global shipper opens ground freight hub in Fontana.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services declined to take a stab at what next year holds at an investor conference this week, but did emphasize that it’s “set up to win” regardless of what the new year brings.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services has expanded its premium intermodal offering, Quantum, to businesses in Mexico.
Intermodal volumes so far seem to be dodging the “air pocket” expected in the wake of steep tariffs on goods from China.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reopened the international border crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, according to the freight railroads affected by the five-day closure.
Union Pacific wants customers to lobby Congress to get U.S. Customs and Border Protection to say when suspended freight rail operations in El Paso and Eagle Pass, Texas, will resume.
Two environmental groups say BNSF should do more to reduce deaths of grizzly bears being hit by freight trains on federally protected grounds in Idaho and Montana.
Two sites in Iowa and one in Kansas have been added to BNSF’s certified sites list for locations that are primed for industrial development and near BNSF’s rail network.
BNSF, J.B. Hunt Transport Services and Mexico’s GMXT are launching an intermodal service in January between Mexico and the Midwest.
BNSF and Navajo Transitional Energy Co. have reached a settlement on NTEC’s request for more rail service to export coal.
J.B. Hunt and BNSF Railway announce the launch of a new customized intermodal offering at FreightWaves’ F3: Future of Freight Festival 2023.
A 13% decline in total revenues dented BNSF’s net profit for the third quarter.
Union Pacific is seeking to bring operations back to normal at two of its California subdivisions that were hit by Tropical Storm Hilary.
This week in Borderlands: US-Mexico cross-border trade may hit $1 trillion by 2028; Railway expands freight capacity with new bridge in North Texas; Toms taps Texas logistics software provider as U.S. fulfillment partner; and CBP discovers 1st-in-nation pest in Southern California.
In a 3-2 vote, the Surface Transportation Board denied BNSF’s request to halt an order compelling the railway to ship 1 million more tons of Montana coal should it reach the capacity to do so.
BNSF’s Sandpoint Junction project entailed the construction of a new bridge and the rehabilitation of an older bridge across Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho.
Second-quarter freight volumes fell 11% across BNSF’s segments for consumer, agricultural and industrial products and coal.
BNSF wants a court to throw out an order from the Surface Transportation Board that BNSF ship more export coal on behalf of Navajo Transitional Energy Co.
The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division says BNSF is relying too much on contracted work and isn’t doing enough to grow its ranks of maintenance-of-way employees.
BNSF has reached a sick leave and work-rest agreement with BLET; CSX and SMART-TD have partnered to extend CSX’s conductor trainee program.
The National Transportation Safety Board says more frequent track inspections could have helped prevent a fatal September 2021 Amtrak derailment that was caused by “poor track conditions.”
This week in Borderlands: BNSF Railway rethinks its plan to build a Texas logistics center after community opposition; Paschall Truck Lines adds a new cross-border terminal; Niagara Bottling will build a logistics center in Central Texas; and the Commerce Department honors three Texas-based export businesses.
Sites in Arizona, Alabama and elsewhere are being prepared to host rail-served industrial facilities.
The Surface Transportation Board has ordered BNSF to meet the Navajo Transitional Energy Company’s request for more coal trains.
BNSF is seeking a waiver from the Federal Railroad Administration to expand a brake health technology program, and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen supports the effort.
BNSF is offering additional sick leave days to some members allifated with SMART-TD.
Navajo Transitional Energy Co. is asking the Surface Transportation Board to declare an emergency service order that would compel BNSF to ship more export coal from the company.
BNSF will expand intermodal service offerings between Alliance, Texas, and its facility at the Port of Houston, which could benefit the markets of Dallas-Fort Worth and Denver.
Higher expenses and lower carload volumes contributed to a year-over-year dip in BNSF’s net profits for the first quarter.
Union Pacific, BNSF and Norfolk Southern need to go further in improving rail service, according to a Surface Transportation Board decision requiring the railroads to submit service performance reports.
BNSF is conducting further analysis on a piece of fractured rail from the March derailment of a BNSF train in Minnesota, according to an initial investigation report from the National Transportation Safety Board.
Four rail cars caught fire when a BNSF train 100 miles northwest of Minneapolis derailed early Thursday morning. The incident spurred an evacuation of area residents within a half-mile of the scene.
BNSF and three unions reach sick leave deals; Trinity Industries acquires a 3PL; and STB names new members to an energy transportation advisory committee.
Three rail unions representing mechanical workers say BNSF violated federal labor laws because of the way it has handled the staffing for its locomotive maintenance program. The unions also argue that BNSF has been deferring maintenance and adhering to a minimum standard.
Despite an increase in revenues for BNSF, higher fuel costs contributed to a softer operating income for the fourth quarter of 2022.
BNSF signs deals with the Transportation Communications Union and National Conference of Firemen & Oilers (NCFO), while NS also seals a pact with NCFO.
BNSF has set a $3.96 billion capital expenditures budget for 2023.
Patriot Rail seals a deal; BNSF signs an MOU; Trinity strengthens its position; Port of Pasco secures project funding; Indiana Rail Road sets titles; and Hedlund succeeds Schulz as STB vice chair.
Higher revenues in Q3 weren’t enough to offset a 30% increase in operational expenses for western U.S. rail carrier BNSF.
Management from J.B. Hunt Transport Services doubles down on long-term growth initiatives in its intermodal unit.
Despite lower volumes in BNSF’s consumer, agricultural, industrial and coal segments, the railroad’s freight revenue rose to nearly $6.3 billion on higher revenues per carload.
The new rail hub is designed to respond to a growing need to expand domestic intermodal capacity within the greater Seattle region.
BNSF has made some changes to the attendance policy that it implemented in February, but unions say the changes don’t go far enough to prevent worker fatigue.
Higher revenues contributed to increased profits in the first quarter for BNSF.
Short line operator G&W and Class I railroad BNSF announce their industrial development results for 2021.
BLET and SMART-TD have decided to pursue binding arbitration in front of a third-party board instead of an appeal.
J.B. Hunt announced plans to expand its intermodal container count to 150,000 units in efforts “to substantially improve capacity” as part of a joint initiative with BNSF Railway.
Schneider provided a better-than-expected earnings outlook for 2022 on Thursday. The company also raised margin targets in two key segments.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against BNSF over alleged sexual harassment at BNSF’s rail yard in Alliance, Nebraska.
The $124M Global Transportation & Industrial Park of Oklahoma is a public-private development expected to spur jobs and economic development in southern Oklahoma.
News about BNSF, Kansas City Southern, Trinity Industries and TTCI.
The CEOs of five Class I railroads tell the Surface Transportation Board that the root causes of the congestion facing rail intermodal terminals are beyond the railroads’ control.
A 26% gain in revenues helped boost BNSF’s net profits in the second quarter of 2021 to $1.5 billion.
The ocean carrier said Monday that BNSF is reducing import traffic at the ports of LA and Long Beach, while inbound trains from New York area ocean terminals to three Midwestern destinations are also being monitored.
The railroad is seeking businesses looking to develop industrial facilities on two sites in Texas and Montana.
Ocean carriers and Class I railroads both agree that chassis shortages are contributing to volume congestion. But solutions to relieve the congestion rely on multiple supply chain stakeholders, say the railroads.
Los Angeles-based Plastic Express will occupy 100% of Phase I at the Cedar Port Logistics Center, scheduled to be completed by December.
Transport deregulation’s long game has left much of the asset-based carrier field with few players. Will the cycle turn to usher in a cast of competitive newbies?
Improving market conditions should support BNSF’s financials in 2021, said S&P on why it modified its ratings for the privately held railroad.
Executives with parent company Berkshire Hathaway expect BNSF to take steps to protect the railroad’s franchise as the merger between Kansas City Southern and one of the Canadian railways makes its way through regulatory review.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators will look into what led to the death of a 24-year veteran of BNSF at a customer facility in Missouri.
Witnesses at a U.S. House hearing on Wednesday stressed the need for a multimodal approach in federal support of the railroads, citing freight rail’s connection with both rural, inland towns and coastal ports.
Three investigators will try to determine what caused the death of a BNSF worker on Wednesday at a rail yard near Los Angeles.
Lower fuel expenses helped privately held BNSF’s net income grow by 5% in the fourth quarter of 2020.
The trade agreement’s rules governing how much of a car must consist of North American parts could incentivize automakers to set up more assembly plants in the U.S.
Extreme cold and lots of snow in the Midwest and other areas could impact rail operations and cause delays, according to some railroads.
The Western U.S. railroad expects to invest $2.99 billion in capital projects to maintain and upgrade its infrastructure and assets.
BNSF and Wabtec conduct advanced tests on a battery-electric locomotive by putting it in service in California with two Tier 4 diesel locomotives.
Initial reports reveal seven tank cars derailed in Washington state and two were on fire, said.
J.B. Hunt issues intermodal service advisory as railroads BNSF Railway and Norfolk Southern implement gate restrictions in Los Angeles and Chicago.
The railroad has named three locations to be part of its site-ready industrial development program.
Samantha Brooks and Ellen Reiche were arrested Saturday night in connection with an alleged terrorist attack on train tracks north of Seattle.
Railroads are leveraging automation and evaluating assets to improve fuel efficiency. Corporate climate goals are on the rise as railroads increase their conservation and emission-reducing efforts.
Management from Schneider National expects tightness in the trucking markets to continue. Inventory restocking will keep truck demand elevated and new capacity is entering the market at a slower pace than in previous cycles.
Third-quarter revenue fell 14% year-over-year, parent company Berkshire Hathaway said. However, lower operating costs led BNSF to a sub-60 operating ratio.
The strength in truckload fundamentals didn’t really show in Schneider National’s third-quarter report. Lower revenue per truck, intermodal rail congestion and brokerage malaise overshadowed the announcement of a $2 special dividend.
Lower volumes blamed for the job reductions in Kansas.
Shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services move 9% lower after the company fails to meet recently raised analyst expectations. Intermodal service headwinds and elevated costs were the culprits.
Intermodal containers arrived this week at North Dakota’s first and only intermodal facility in Minot.
The rail sites are for manufacturers wanting to expand their footprint domestically or tap into the export network.
Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Mexican train blockade costing millions; Toyota and VW expand in Mexico; tire manufacturer opens Houston facility; Xxentria opens border operation; US, Mexico and Canada extend border closures.
Kathryn M. Farmer will assume the role of president and CEO in January, taking the reins from current President and CEO Carl R. Ice. Ice is retiring but will remain on BNSF’s board of directors.
The wildfires in Washington state aren’t a major threat to BNSF’s Washington operations, but the railroad deployed trains to help area first responders. Union Pacific grappled with wildfires near a Northern California subdivision last week.
YRC Worldwide reported trends worse than its competitors for the first two months of the third quarter. Recent postings show the carrier is moving forward on its turnaround by rationalizing its terminal network.
Class I railroad crews will spend the next two days clearing downed trees and restoring electric power along tracks in southern Louisiana.
Volume declines for coal and energy, as well as customers’ changing business conditions, are factors behind the facility’s July closure.
The COVID-19 pandemic dented BNSF’s profits and lowered rail volumes in the second quarter.
The Nebraska Public Service Commission is preparing to file a complaint against BNSF, Union Pacific and Nebraska Central over blocked highway-rail grade crossings in Grand Island.
With no end in sight to the pandemic in North America, BMWED says railroads should enhance worker safety.
The former worker is entitled to over $3.1 million in compensatory and punitive damages, lost wages, and front pay.
Border agents found 48 stowaways attempting to enter the U.S. illegally at rail crossings at the El Paso, Texas, port of entry.
BNSF and others are monitoring their rail networks as Cristobal moves up the Mississippi River Valley.
The COVID-19 pandemic dented volume growth in the first quarter for the privately owned railroad.
Like all industries, the coronavirus has impacted railroads. What should they be doing to gain market share and better serve their customers?
U.S. logistics real estate operator announces it has reached the 100 million euro cap for its European logistics fund.
The modifications include extra precautions that follow CDC guidance.
Every FreightWaves article is designed to assist our readers in becoming the most informed professionals in the transportation and logistics industry. These articles may have flown under your radar this week. We consider them essential reading. The mysterious resurrection of Celadon’s Mexican business – Bankrupt Celadon Group reveals employees in Mexico recently restarted operations of its […]
2019’s $1.2 billion in investments spans consumer, agricultural, industrial products industries
Lower operating expenses helped buoy BNSF’s quarterly and annual profits despite declines in rail volumes and revenue.
The railroad is reducing its capital expenditures budget for this year, but it will allocate more funding toward replacing and upgrading network infrastructure.
