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By mid-year, Canadian Pacific Railway plans to complete a $4.5-million, multi-year program designed to employ Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) to match motor-vehicle rail shipments with automakers' and dealers' computerized inventory systems.


The VIN program will enable shippers to track rail cars — and individual automobiles and light trucks — from assembly plants to showrooms.


To manage all aspects of its automotive operations, CPR is using AutoTrack software supplied by Optimization Alternatives Ltd. Inc.


Workers use handheld scanners linked by wireless radio frequency to CPR databases and each terminal's computerized inventory-control system to monitor loaded and unloaded vehicles as they enter or leave yards.


The VIN system enables CPR to provide automotive shippers faster service and more-detailed information in real time, said Lawre Allen, CPR vice president of intermodal and automotive, in a prepared statement.


Serving all major North American automakers, CPR last year moved 1.8 million cars and light trucks.