UPS

Investments from BNSF customers and supply chain partners totaled more than $4.1 billion in 2023—the largest made in new or expanded facilities in the past five years, the Class I railroad reported April 1. (BNSF Photograph)

Class I Briefs: BNSF, CN, NS, UP

BNSF releases 2023 economic development results. Also, CN earns a UPS service award; Norfolk Southern (NS) acquires a Chicago transload and warehouse facility and receives an $8.4 million Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) grant for its McDonough passing track improvement project; and Union Pacific (UP) Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales Kenny Rocker provides a railroad status report.

How It Works: FLOW Data Inputs and Outputs—Members of the FLOW program (e.g., beneficial cargo owners, ocean carriers, ports, terminals, railroads) share individual logistics data (highlighted in bold in the graphic above) with the USDOT and in return receive an aggregated, anonymized, and holistic view of the relationship between incoming containers (demand), the available assets to move containers (supply), and throughput within a supply chain region. Incoming demand is shared up to 90 days in advance of arrival. (USDOT Graphic)

USDOT Marks Milestone on Second Anniversary of FLOW

The Freight Logistics Optimizations Works (FLOW) platform is now publishing data on inland freight hubs, including rail terminal and warehouse end destination data, that will provide an “enhanced view” of future container import volumes and traffic, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) reported March 20, the second anniversary of the platform’s launch to provide an integrated view of supply chain conditions in the United States and to help users forecast how current capacity and throughput will fare against future demand.

CN, headquartered in Montreal, Québec, has officially registered with the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) pursuant to An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec. (CN Photograph)

Class I Briefs: CN, CSX, KCS, NS

CN registers with the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) and is listed on CDP’s 2022 Supplier Engagement Leaderboard. Also, CSX updates its industrial site-selection program; UPS recognizes Kansas City Southern (KCS) for “zero controllable service failures”; Norfolk Southern (NS) donates $250,000 to an Ohio-based nonprofit delivering aid to the East Palestine community; and NS’s acquisition of Cincinnati Southern Railway stalls.

BNSF President and Chief Executive Officer Katie M. Farmer (BNSF Photograph)

2023 Railroader of the Year: Katie Farmer, BNSF

RAILWAY AGE, JANUARY 2023 ISSUE: Railway Age’s 2023 Railroader of the Year Award, the 60th annual, goes to a groundbreaking North American rail industry leader: BNSF President and Chief Executive Officer Katie M. Farmer.

NS will present 15 customers and suppliers with inaugural Thoroughbred Sustainability Partner Awards in January 2023.

Class I Briefs: NS, UP

Norfolk Southern (NS) recognizes 15 customers and suppliers for leadership in energy efficiency, innovation and environmental stewardship. Also, Union Pacific (UP) reports the Mexican government’s extension of the Carta Porte grace period.

Teresa Finley, Board Member, Union Pacific

UP Elects Finley to Board

Teresa Finley, a former United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) executive, has been elected to the Union Pacific (UP) Board of Directors.

UPS to STB: Forced access forces us off the rails

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board would be doing itself a favor if chooses not to mess with UPS and heed the gargantuan railroad customer’s call to deep-six forced access, otherwise known as “reciprocal switching.”