For FEC, intermodal expansion
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefFlorida East Coast Railway (FECR) is increasing its intermodal capacity by adding new equipment, and is expanding its services to include intermodal transportation between Charlotte, N.C., and a number of locations in South Florida.
FECR recently acquired 500 new 53-foot containers and 100 chassis. In addition, the company added 50 refrigerated trailers to meet the needs of customers in the perishables market. All of the units will be in service by mid-October.
“These assets align with FECR’s strategy to convert existing trailers to containers in order to provide doublestack transportation service,” said President and CEO James R. Hertwig. “Both the containers and refrigerated trailers are equipped with GPS technology, providing real-time tracking capabilities. The refrigerated units are also equipped with systems that provide information about operational performance, including temperature levels. We continue to see positive growth in our intermodal business as customers from a variety of industry segments recognize the value we provide. With the addition of these new units, we are well-positioned to meet the needs of the marketplace during the upcoming peak shipping season and beyond.”
With FECR’s expansion into North Carolina, the company’s Piedmont Express intermodal service is available five days a week.
“This seamless two-day service allows customers to select from a variety of pickup and delivery options, including door-to-door, ramp-to-door, and ramp-to-ramp,” said Hertwig. “It provides FECR customers with another option to get their freight to the growing South Florida market, efficiently and effectively. With the addition of the Piedmont Express routes, customers can now grow their business to South Florida in a cost-effective manner. We are pleased to offer this reliable intermodal service to customers moving freight between the Carolinas and South Florida. On average, for every four southbound shipments arriving in South Florida, there is only one northbound shipment. This imbalance can be challenging; however, FECR’s Piedmont Express in FECR’s containers provides a cost-effective option.”
