BNSF Touts Improved Intermodal Network Performance
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
In a Sept. 2 update to intermodal customers, BNSF said its “aggressive service recovery efforts are generating improved network performance as we move into September.”
Two days before it lifted a temporary embargo on intermodal shipments destined for California, BNSF, citing “positive momentum gained during the embargo,” noted that its average car velocity increased compared to the prior week and exceeded August 2022’s average by nearly 6%. The railroad’s best single-day velocity of the year was achieved “multiple times” the week of Aug. 29. “In line with our total volume increasing for the fourth straight week, we also had our best performance in carload delivery in August for the year. Local service compliance also increased vs. the previous week, and terminal dwell improved by more than 7% vs. the prior month.
BNSF added that it “will continue to work collaboratively with individual customers as needed to manage traffic flows” to build on the momentum it claims resulted from the temporary intermodal embargo.
BNSF said it “continues to confront significant challenges associated with congestion at key inland intermodal facilities,” primarily Logistics Park Chicago (LPC), Logistics Park Kansas City (LPKC), and Alliance Intermodal Facility (north Texas). … “Congestion at our inland facilities has been driven by elongated street turn times impacting chassis availability and extremely high dwell times at LPC, LPKC, and Alliance. With elevated inventories resulting from the slow pickup of shipments, we remain focused on evaluating and implementing additional measures to drive greater efficiency and productivity. This may require the additional metering of some intermodal freight originating out of Southern California.”
BNSF added that “prompt pick-up of shipments will help improve traffic flows, reduce lot congestion, and provide the space needed for processing inbound freight as expeditiously as possible.”
