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Today, Burlington Northern Santa Fe announced plans to add guaranteed refrigerated box-car availability and placement to its Loading Origin Guarantees (LOGS) program, an online auction enabling customers to in advance secure centerbeam- and box-car capacity for four-, five-, 13- or 26-week durations.
Initially, BNSF plans to place half of its refrigerated loading capacity in LOGS — about 140 weekly loads. The Class I would guarantee empty rail-owned or controlled refrigerated box car availability and placement for a scheduled shipping period; if BNSF can't fulfill the guarantee, the railroad would render a default payment.
"Placing such a significant portion of our refrigerated fleet in LOGS ensures both large and small shippers have an equal opportunity to secure equipment," said Dave Fleenor, BNSF assistant vice president, perishables marketing, in a prepared statement, adding that the guarantee program also enables BNSF to improve its asset utilization.
The railroad plans to hold the first refrigerated box car auction July 30, for shipments beginning the week of Aug. 27
Source: Progressive Railroading Daily News