Norfolk Southern Corp. subsidiary MODALGISTICS®. lately has been garnering more heavy-equipment moves for the Class I, according to the railroad's May newsletter released April 22.
Shippers John Deere, Caterpillar, Case New Holland and others are using NS' MACH-One Machinery Service(sm) to move heavy equipment from Midwestern plants to eastern ports. Equipment — including excavators, bulldozers, combines, tractors and cotton-pickers — is being exported to Bosnia, Romania and Turkmenistan, and Iraq to assist in rebuilding efforts.
"Rail has previously handled only 1 percent of this market," said Tim Mann, NS manager of business solutions. "We expect business to double in this segment of our machinery business in 2004."
Working with Union Pacific Railroad and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, NS moves equipment on flat cars in unit trains. A recent unit train moving 77 combines was valued at $69 million.
"Our team approach, represented by 10 NS departments, greatly enhances our ability to service these customers," said Steve Blinn, MODALGISTICS national account manager, government and machinery.
Source: Progressive Railroading Daily News
