UP
Union Pacific recently hosted three events in Omaha, Neb., with more than 150 customers from its Bulk, Industrial and Premium teams, fostering conversations on how best to meet their evolving needs.
Across all commodities, the message focused on customers being at the heart of UP’s growth strategy. During each event, CEO Jim Vena walked attendees through the “Safety, Service and Operational Excellence = Growth” strategy and discussed how the railroad’s “unmatched franchise is positioned to help them win in their markets.”
Kenny Rocker, Executive Vice President-Marketing and Sales, spoke on what it takes to win together with customers: “collaborating and investing for growth, improving supply chain visibility and driving sustainable solutions together.”
“We’re committed to delivering the safe and reliable service we sold you, investing in our network and innovating with technology and new product offerings to better serve you,” Rocker said.
This year alone, UP says it will invest $3.4 billion on infrastructure (nearly $10 million a day), including renewal, equipment, technology and network expansion. Over the past five years, the railroad has invested significantly on long-term growth projects, introducing nine new intermodal service products and adding 11 new lanes out of Port Houston. On the carload side, UP extended its reach through transload sites and industrial parks. For example, Prime Pointe Industrial Park near Dallas, Texas, is a 3,000-acre industrial site master planned for UP rail service that demonstrates “how the railroad uses focus sites to drive carload and intermodal growth.”
Technology upgrades also have been a focus, with UP deploying and enhancing its suite of Application Program Interfaces (APIs). Customer Vision will soon be rolled out, “improving visibility and enhancing the management of customer shipments, making it easier to do business with UP,” the Class I noted.
Customers valued the opportunity to hear directly from members of UP’s senior leadership team, including Vena; Rocker; Eric Gehringer, Executive Vice President-Operations; and Rahul Jalali, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Each team’s leader, including Jacque Bendon, Senior Vice President-Industrial; Jason Hess, Senior Vice President-Bulk; and Kari Kirchhoefer, Senior Vice President-Premium, contributed insights on developing rail solutions designed to support customer growth, emphasizing “the importance of collaboration and investment for mutual growth.”
CPKC
Honorary Captain William H. Wilson (Captain Bill), now retired, is a proud veteran and CP pensioner who served as a Seaman Gunner on HMCS Ottawa in the Royal Canadian Navy. After World War II, he transitioned to CP Airlines and later CP Rail, where he held important positions, including Director of Operations and Special Assistant to the VP of Engineering, overseeing the Rogers Pass tunnel projects.
In recognition of his exceptional service to his country and CP, CPKC employees presented him with a custom-made freight wheel bench last on Oct. 25, which will be installed at his home later this week.
“It was a privilege to join in Captain Bill’s 100th birthday celebration,” CPKC wrote in a LinkedIn post.
A slideshow of Captain Bill’s celebration is available here.
