CPKC adds 1,000 reefers to expanding MMX service

Canadian Pacific Kansas City today announced it added 1,000 new, 53-foot, refrigerated intermodal containers to its network, which more than doubles the Class I’s existing fleet and adds shipping options to customers using the Mexico Midwest Express (MMX) Series intermodal service.

The new refrigerated containers are part of CPKC's TempPro^™ solutions, ensuring products that require temperature protection are transported safely in a fast, reliable and fuel-efficient service, CPKC officials said in a press release.

Launched May 11, the MMX Series is a single-line, Midwest-to-Mexico rail service for refrigerated shippers, a market currently served by trucks. The MMX temperature-controlled service will move fresh and frozen produce, baked goods, candy and other food products northbound and beef, chicken and pork to southern markets.

MMX provides transit time of 98 hours from Chicago to San Luis Potosi, which is a day faster than the nearest competitor, CPKC officials said.

"We're providing customers with the fastest transit times in the rail industry and this expansion of our state-of-the-art reefer equipment gives more customers the solution they need to convert to rail," said Jonathan Wahba, CPKC senior vice president of sales and marketing-bulk and intermodal.

In April, CPKC announced new multiyear agreements with Schneider National Inc. and Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. for intermodal transportation services along the CPKC single-line north-south corridor.