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The article focuses on the U.S. freight railroads proved resilient in 2021, navigating a year many hoped would prove easier than 2020. Topics include the industry's leadership and workforce and decades of private investment, and the railroads last year handled their highest volume of intermodal traffic ever in a six-month period as many shippers fought to clear backlogs.

J.B. Hunt and BNSF Railway have launched a new premium domestic intermodal service called Quantum, which aims to convert truckloads to rail. The service offers faster and more reliable schedules, with truck-like on-time performance. Quantum targets freight that has never been on rails before and aims to regain market share lost to the highway. The service involves a high level of coordination between J.B. Hunt, BNSF, and the customer, and offers transit-time customization based on each shipper's needs. The companies expect Quantum volume to ramp up quickly and believe there are between 7 million and 11 million loads that can move via intermodal on the BNSF network. [Extracted from the article]

The article names BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation and J.B. Hunt Transport Services as the top performing domestic intermodal providers in the U.S. in the second half of 2023 based on customer satisfaction, customer service and price competitiveness, according to a survey of shippers and intermodal market companies (IMC). Data shows the intermodal service scores of IMCs and the savings of shippers that choose intermodal over long-haul trucking on contractual business and spot market business.

The article discusses the reliability of Mexico-U.S. intermodal rail connection after U.S. authorities shut down border crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas on December 18, 2023. Topics discussed include the impact of the shut down on BSNF Railway, concern of three intermodal marketing companies (IMCs) about their ability to sell rail options to shippers if closures become a chronic issue, and statement from a BNSF spokesperson.

A federal jury has ruled that BNSF Railway contributed to the deaths of two individuals who were exposed to asbestos in a Montana town. The jury awarded $4 million each in compensatory damages to the estates of the deceased plaintiffs. The vermiculite, which contained naturally-occurring asbestos, was shipped through the town of Libby and caused illnesses and deaths. The jury did not find that BNSF acted intentionally or with indifference, so no punitive damages were awarded. This case is the first of many lawsuits against the railroad corporation to reach trial over its past operations in Libby. [Extracted from the article]

BNSF Railway, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is facing a lawsuit in federal civil court over its alleged role in asbestos exposure in Libby, Montana. The railroad argues that it should not be held liable for the lung cancer deaths of two former residents because it did not know that the vermiculite it hauled from a nearby mine contained hazardous asbestos fibers. The case is the first of many lawsuits against BNSF to reach trial, with current and former residents seeking accountability for the asbestos exposure that has killed hundreds and sickened thousands. The jury is deliberating on whether the railroad is at fault and, if so, the amount of damages to award. The role of W.R. Grace & Co., the chemical company that operated the vermiculite mine, is also being examined, with disputes over how much they revealed about the asbestos dangers to BNSF. The plaintiffs argue that the railroad's higher-ups were aware, but workers on the ground were left uninformed. The railroad claims it was obligated by law to ship the vermiculite and that W.R. Grace employees concealed the health hazards. Former railroad workers testified that they knew nothing about the risks of asbestos and that Grace employees were responsible for handling the vermiculite. The estates of the deceased plaintiffs argue that BNSF is still responsible for failing to clean up the vermiculite that spilled in the railyard. The families of the deceased plaintiffs testified that their loved ones' lives ended soon [Extracted from the article]

The article introduces Memphis Pool of Choice, a new Memphis chassis pool by North American Chassis Pool Cooperative aiming to enhance options for truckers and beneficial cargo owners (BCOs), but facing criticism from Consolidated Chassis Management over potential market fragmentation.

WARREN Buffett, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, is the most successful investor of our time. Today, Berkshire has three major kinds of investments: cash (a war chest of $104 billion, as of March 31); companies that Berkshire operates and typically owns in full, ranging from GEICO to BNSF Railway to See's Candies; and publicly traded stocks that you can buy yourself. (Charlie Munger, Buffett's longtime partner, turns 100 on January 1; Buffett, the youngster, was 93 in August.). [Extracted from the article]

Features FROM JOHN PELUSO'S HOME in suburban St. Louis, you can hear trains passing on BNSF Railway's line between St. Louis and Springfield, Mo. Inside his basement, though, the trains are HO scale versions of those that ran over the same line when it belonged to the St. Louis-San Francisco Ry., also known as the Frisco. A westbound freight powered by two GP7s in Frisco's original black-and-gold freight paint scheme rounds a curve near the end of the double track west of St. Louis. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the railroad industry in the U.S., the lack of competition against railroad companies, including CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and the effect antitrust laws have on the railroad industry. An overview the U.S. railroad industry is given, including political, financial and legal aspects. The four companies listed above earn more than 90% of the entire industry's revenue and conflicts with other businesses, such as M&G Polymers, a plastics and polymer resins manufacturer, are common, because the business has no other choice but to use the railroad available and in turn no choice but to pay whatever that railroad charges.

The article discusses the railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe. In April 2007 Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway traveled to Kansas City, Missouri to meet with Matthew K. Rose in a 1930s railcar. In 2006 Berkshire purchased a 10.9% stake in Burlington which rose to 18.5%. High oil prices are dropping and can negatively impact the railroad as their freight cars are still being filled with inventory.

Cincinnati voters have approved the sale of the city-owned Cincinnati Southern Railway to Norfolk Southern for $1.62 billion. The sale is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024, and the proceeds will go into a trust fund for city infrastructure projects. In other news, Regional Rail LLC is acquiring the Indiana Eastern Railroad and Ohio South Central Railroad, bringing its total number of short lines to 15. Additionally, BNSF Railway and Navajo Transitional Energy Co. have reached a settlement to end a coal producer's complaint against the railroad. Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman has announced that he will not seek reappointment when his term ends in 2023. Transportation historian H. Roger Grant has passed away at the age of 79. [Extracted from the article]

Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway and operates one of North America's largest railroad networks, BNSF Railway. The company transports agricultural, consumer, and industrial products, as well as coal, across its extensive rail network. BNSF's charitable giving is primarily conducted through the BNSF Railway Foundation, which supports various charitable groups and causes in the communities served by the railroad. The foundation focuses on civic services, cultural organizations, educational institutions, health and human service organizations, youth organizations, and federated organizations. It also administers scholarship programs and an employee matching gift program. For more information, visit the company's website. [Extracted from the article]

The article informs that BNSF Railway continues to push the boundaries of unmanned aircraft operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) as it works with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on a Pathfinder program to shape regulations for expanded use of commercial drones. It is noted that the FAA teamed with BNSF on the BVLOS Pathfinder because the railroad operator already had infrastructure that could be used to mitigate the safety risk in the track inspection mission

The article reports that BNSF Railway has been given permission by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) while using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to inspect rail tracks.

The article offers information on Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway (M&StL), which now comes under BNSF Railway's 36-mile Hanley Falls Subdivision. M&StL was revived under the leadership of bankruptcy receiver Lucian C. Sprague, who streamlined the company, sold some lines for scrap, and boosted its status as a bridge carrier between the Upper Midwest and the East via Peoria, Illinois.

The article focuses on J.B. Hunt Transport Service has acquired BNSF Logistics' truck brokerage operations, strengthening their intermodal transportation partnership. It reports that the deal repositions their businesses within the joint intermodal partnership, with J.B. Hunt taking over the brokerage business and BNSF maintaining warehousing and special projects. It highlights this strategic move aligns services during weak trucking and intermodal demand.

The article discusses how Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway is implementing camera and artificial intelligence (AI) technology at its terminals to enhance cargo flow efficiency. Topics include BNSF Railway's deployment of technology such as fixed-pole cameras, hostler-mounted cameras, and drones to optimize cargo operations at its terminals, as well as the potential benefits, including reduced truck turn times and increased train unloading efficiency.

The article offers information on the West Vancouver Freight Access program, which improved the ability of Washington State's Port of Vancouver USA to accommodate rail traffic and larger freight volumes. It mentions that the program has helped reduce rail congestion on critical rail lines. It mentions that the port is served by Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway.

The article highlights plans of Union Pacific and BNSF Railway to move more than 60 trains of lumber, grain, trash, and more through the Columbia River Gorge, as of September 2018. Topics discussed include unit garbage train across the way between Rowland Lake and the Columbia River in 2009; and Union Pacific's locomotive SD90MACs that has an eastbound freight train through Oregon's Memaloose State Park.

The article reports on the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission's (FMC) start of investigations into about half of the 95 charge complaints filed by shippers against ocean carriers and terminal operators via its new Bureau of Enforcement, as of October 2022.

The article discusses how Railroads in the U.S. could gain traffic with smaller loads and shorter hauls. Topics discussed include impact of shrinking traffic base on cutting employees, mothballing locomotives, and closing freight yards; plans of different railroad operators like BNSF Railway, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific; and increasing crew and locomotive costs on continuing to raise freight rates.

The article examines the role of falling price of natural gas, increased production observed by U.S. petrochemical industry and increased coal transportation, in boosting the rail traffic in the U.S., as of January 2017. Topics discussed include views of Wick Moorman, American railroad Norfolk Southern's chief on the issue; challenges due to congestion and lack of empty containers at Gulf Coast ports; and plans of BNSF Railway to use its packaging facilities.

The article discusses the ruling that Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway intentionally violated an easement agreement with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in Washington state by running 100-car crude oil trains over the reservation, exceeding the agreed-upon limitations and damaging the tribe's trust lands.

An interview with railroad industry veteran and industry consultant Steven Ditmeyer is presented. Topics discussed include his views on the positive train control (PTC) system of BNSF Railway company; his thoughts on the global positioning systems (GPS) receivers on locomotives that can give real-time train location and speed information; and his thoughts on his role in the development of an Advanced Railroad Electronics System and an early PTC-type system at BNSF in the 1980s.

An interview with retired chief executive officer (CEO) of the company, Amtrak, Joe Boardman is presented. When asked about the changes that managers have made to the safety initiatives of the company, he refers to an employee training program to impart extensive railroad knowledge. He also mentions about his experiences of working with BNSF Railway.

The article reports on the U.S. CLASS 1 railroads say they believe domestic intermodal is a growth engine as cost and environmental concerns become more important for shippers, but some intermodal marketing companies (IMCs) are worried that large shippers will thrive while small shippers are left behind.