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Whirlpool Corp. recently presented Kansas City Southern Railway Co. and Kansas City Southern de México S.A. de C.V. an award for “exceptional” service. The award recognizes the railroads’ performance and customer support after Hurricane Alex, which struck Mexico in July 2010.

“During the Hurricane Alex disruption, the benefits of our multi-modal strategy were clearer than ever. While other shippers had trucks waiting in line for days to cross the border, we were moving box cars,” said Whirlpool Senior Director of Supply Chain Operations Kevin O’Meara in an item posted on the “KCS News” web page. “Our use of rail is a competitive differentiator.”

Whirlpool began using rail about two years ago to reduce its fossil fuel usage. The company built 10 new distribution facilities with rail docks near mainlines or short-haul tracks. In September 2010, Whirlpool moved its 3,000th box car — equivalent to taking 9,000 trucks off the highway, according to Kansas City Southern.