The two railroads said shippers have the option to purchase, for a premium, seamless coast-to-coast guaranteed intermodal service for domestic and international container loads of freight moving between San Bernardino, CA and Harrisburg, PA. For each load that does not meet the scheduled availability time for customer pick-up, Fort Worth, TX-based BNSF and Norfolk, VA-based NS will offer a 100% refund.
BNSF vp Steve Branscum said the new joint service now extends to 16 cross-country intermodal lanes and is designed to attract a greater share of freight moving over the road between Southern California and the Northeast by giving shippers a risk-free transportation alternative.
"By adding the guarantee option, we truly believe we have a coast-to-coast transportation product in place that will satisfy our most demanding customers," said NS vp Mike McClellan. "Moreover, the guaranteed service reliability provides yet another reason for transcontinental over-the-road shippers to consider rail as their preferred mode of transportation."
