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Canadian fertilizer and crop marketer Agrium recently became GE Rail Services’ first Maintenance MAX™ customer. The company is placing 100 fertilizer hoppers in the fleet maintenance and management program, which is designed to simplify and reduce the cost of administering and maintaining a freight-car fleet.

A division of GE Equipment Services, GE Rail Services relies on its experience as an owner and lessor of more than 170,000 rail cars, and a car repair service provider to offer Maintenance MAX.

The company uses historical fleet maintenance data and Six Sigma quality-control standards to analyze materials, suppliers and equipment types to determine how to extend maintenance intervals and reduce car-repair costs. GE also studies customers’ car usage and maintenance processes to identify cost trends.

GE Rail Services leases grain, coal, plastics and specialty hoppers; tank, box and intermodal flat cars; mill gondolas; and intermodal trailers, containers and chassis.