BNSF reduces transit schedules on domestic premium intermodal traffic

BNSF has reduced transit schedules on 60 percent of its Domestic Intermodal Premium Container traffic, and added 16 more days of service.

"These
changes are a direct result of feedback from our domestic carrier customers on
what they need to attract more over-the-road freight to a truck-rail intermodal
solution," said George Duggan, BNSF vice president, Domestic Intermodal.

One
of the changes includes reducing transit time by seven to 10 hours on BNSF’s premier
Transcontinental route between Los Angeles/San Bernardino and Chicago, giving
customers a morning availability and allowing for same day delivery. BNSF also
reduced transit time between Memphis and Los Angeles by four to six hours, and
increased Houston, inbound and outbound day-of-week frequency, along with several
other changes that can be found at www.bnsf.com.

"We’re
pleased to have worked with BNSF to create improved intermodal service offerings
for the marketplace," said Paul Bergant, J.B. Hunt chief marketing officer and president,
Intermodal. "These changes come just in time for bid season and allow us to attract
more retailers to the efficiencies that truck-rail intermodal has to offer." 

According
to Dave Howland, Schneider Intermodal vice president, rail management, "These
changes not only better fit the needs of our customers, but they also offer
customers the single most effective way to reduce emissions in their
transportation service, potentially reducing carbon emissions on average by more
than 50 percent."

"With
more capacity, speed and now better service options, these service enhancements
allow Swift to continue to provide its customers with flexibility and truck-like
reliability at a cost-effective price," said Mark Young, president, Swift
Intermodal.

These
enhancements build on the 77 service changes BNSF made to its Domestic Intermodal
service in 2009, reducing transit schedules by 300 hours and adding 32 days of
additional frequency.