BNSF
BNSF has delivered the first load to its new intermodal ramp in Oklahoma City, carrying freight for customer Hobby Lobby, the Class I announced via a social media post. Locomotive Engineer Dane Sargent and Conductor Kolic Edwards brought it home on Dec. 31.
The new 42-acre facility is a result of BNSF’s partnership with the retailer, which was looking for more efficient movement of its loaded containers from the ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach to the network of Hobby Lobby distribution centers in OKC.
Other business will also be able to use the facility for export to the West Coast.
UP
UP recently announced that GPS tracking, developed by supply chain technology partner Blume Global, is now embedded in the Class I’s 53-foot EMP and UMAX domestic containers, which are owned in partnership with other Class I railroads.
Together, the combined fleets represent the largest GPS-enabled, rail-owned container fleet in North America, according to UP. Central to the upgrade is Blume’s enhanced GPS intermodal platform, providing customers with real-time, smarter visibility into their shipments.
Key benefits for customers:
- “Real-time notifications for critical deliveries.
- “Instantaneous alerts for load/empty and location status, reducing street dwell time (the time period a container is outside of the ramp in the customer’s possession, either loaded or empty).
- “Customized geofencing, technology that creates virtual boundaries around real-world locations to enhance street visibility for optimal asset utilization.
- “Streamlined communication, resulting in fewer phone calls and manual updates.
- “Application Programming Interface (API) connectivity for full data integration.”
These tools, UP says, “help customers resolve issues faster, plan more effectively and reduce manual follow-ups, leading to an enhanced and reliable shipping experience.”
“This is another meaningful step as we deliver the best customer experience possible,” said Kenny Rocker, Executive Vice President-Marketing and Sales, Union Pacific Railroad. “By combining GPS-enabled containers with real-time data and smarter visibility tools, we’re providing the transparency and reliability our customers depend on.”
