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The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) recently named Union Pacific Railroad Vice President of Intermodal Operations Barry Michaels as the winner of the 2011 IANA Silver Kingpin Award, which recognizes an individual’s contributions to the intermodal industry.

The association is honoring Michaels for “a lifetime of tireless work as an intermodal advocate,” IANA officials said in a prepared statement. He was instrumental in the development of recommended practices to facilitate the implementation of federal roadability rules and is considered by many as the “force behind the roadability compliance effort” for all Class Is, they said.
 
“Barry is unique in his ability to put the industry and IANA ahead of any parochial interests,” said IANA Chairman Steve Rubin.
 
Michaels twice served as IANA’s chairman and spent seven years as chairman of the IANA Operations Committee, and 14 years as an Intermodal Interchange Executive Committee member. In 1971, he began his career at the Chicago Northwestern Railroad, where he held several posts until the UP/CNW merger in 1995, when he became UP’s assistant vice president of intermodal operations. During his UP tenure, Michaels worked on developing programs to support the growth of North American domestic container traffic, including the implementation of terminal gate automation that improved operational efficiencies and increased throughput, IANA officials said. 

Michaels will receive the award on Nov. 14 at the 2011 IANA Intermodal Expo in Atlanta. The Silver Kingpin has been presented annually since 1977 and past winders include Comtrak Logistics Inc. founder Mike Bruns, Hub Group Inc. executive Thomas Hardin, intermodal pioneer Gordon Miller, trucking industry duo Greg and Judy Stefflre, long-time Mi-Jack Products Inc. employee Raymond Tippit Sr., Rail Management Services Inc. President John Gray and Progressive Railroading co-founder Frank Richter.