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At 2003's end, Kansas City Southern joined the Class Is' Interline Service Management (ISM) initiative under which participating roads monitor and manage their performance on each shipment, and electronically share interline data. But after two months, KCS already is outperforming several large roads in providing and meeting estimated times of arrival (ETAs), and outpacing others in overall data quality, according to a prepared statement.

The Class Is launched ISM several years ago to monitor and improve service quality, and provide customers real-time shipment status and ETAs. RAILINC Corp. — which manages Steelroads.com — provides the information technology services that enable Class Is to exchange interline data.

Prior to implementing its Management Control System (MCS) computer platform in 2002, KCS didn't have the technological ability to generate trip plans for individual shipments or communicate ISM data to RAILINC, KCS officials said. In October 2003, the Class I began implementing ISM system-wide, enabling KCS to electronically share data with all interchanging Class Is.