Western Railroad Discussion > Pacer stack train on BNSF?!!

Slowly but surley I am seeing alot more of the blue Pacer Stacktrain containers on the Z trains through Spokane.

I thought Pacer was run purely by UPRR regardless?

Unless the BNSF has better time offerings to some of the PNW cities from points east that Pacer Stacktrain finds better than on the up?

Were they 110" tall 53' containers on chassis?

Interesting, I haven't seen a pacer can on the Z train here in Seattle yet but I have seen them on the UP trains at Argo.
Maybe I wasn't paying much attention.

Couldn't say if it amounts to much but there have been some JB Hunt containers on UP...I saw a couple on the ZLCAI and 5 on the ILCHO.

AM

There's been some Pacer on the South end of the railroad for at least a year now. Initially, it was mostly double-stacked, but now they all seem to ride on chassis in trailer form.

Tom

Earlier this year, some routing that were BNSF/NS and UP/CSX were switched. The BNSF contract with NS was up for renewal and understand CSX won this contract. NS then aligned with UP and touting a shorter route and faster service with UP vs BNSF/CSX. CSX won the APL contract away from NS several years ago and seems logical to route with BNSF instead of UP.

Pacer is using the BNSF for expedited service and all should be on chassis running as trailers.
Pacer started with BNSF to met the needs of certain shippers that needed fast trailer type service. They run out of Memphis to the west coast. BNSF to the PNW has very good service.

With the old sweetheart deal between BNSF and J B Hunt now gone, Hunt is free to use UP and is trying service all over the UP. Hunt is not leaving BNSF, just trying UP as another option.

gmojim

gmojim Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pacer is using the BNSF for expedited service and
> all should be on chassis running as trailers.
> Pacer started with BNSF to met the needs of
> certain shippers that needed fast trailer type
> service. They run out of Memphis to the west
> coast. BNSF to the PNW has very good service.
>
> With the old sweetheart deal between BNSF and J B
> Hunt now gone, Hunt is free to use UP and is
> trying service all over the UP. Hunt is not
> leaving BNSF, just trying UP as another option.
>
> gmojim

Yes, this is in line with what I've heard too. I'd expect JB Hunt to take a very close look at expanding service with UP/NS via the
KCS "Meridian Speedway/Gateway"; might be why they have been sampling the ZLCAI.


AM

dash9cw Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Earlier this year, some routing that were BNSF/NS
> and UP/CSX were switched. The BNSF contract with
> NS was up for renewal and understand CSX won this
> contract. NS then aligned with UP and touting a
> shorter route and faster service with UP vs
> BNSF/CSX. CSX won the APL contract away from NS
> several years ago and seems logical to route with
> BNSF instead of UP.

Don't confuse APL with Pacer. UP still has the APL contract to move international maritime shipping containers (at least for now anyway).

UP still moves alot of Pacer containers, usually (but not always) with slower service at a lower rate...


AM

gmojim Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pacer is using the BNSF for expedited service and
> all should be on chassis running as trailers.
> Pacer started with BNSF to met the needs of
> certain shippers that needed fast trailer type
> service. They run out of Memphis to the west
> coast. BNSF to the PNW has very good service.
>
> With the old sweetheart deal between BNSF and J B
> Hunt now gone, Hunt is free to use UP and is
> trying service all over the UP. Hunt is not
> leaving BNSF, just trying UP as another option.
>
> gmojim

I should have added that the JB Hunt containers I saw on both the ZLCAI and ILCHO were chassis running as trailers...

AM

AM, didn't Pacer International purchase APL several years ago?

1moose Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Were they 110" tall 53' containers on chassis?


Yes they were.

andy

Z-WSPLAC1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 1moose Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Were they 110" tall 53' containers on chassis?
>
>
> Yes they were.
>
> andy

The above mentioned program is for 53' 110" containers on chassis. APL spun off their domestic stack train operations to Pacer years ago. Pacer handles repositioning of APL international boxes.

gmojim Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pacer is using the BNSF for expedited service and
> all should be on chassis running as trailers.
> Pacer started with BNSF to met the needs of
> certain shippers that needed fast trailer type
> service. They run out of Memphis to the west
> coast. BNSF to the PNW has very good service.
>
> With the old sweetheart deal between BNSF and J B
> Hunt now gone, Hunt is free to use UP and is
> trying service all over the UP. Hunt is not
> leaving BNSF, just trying UP as another option.
>
> gmojim

I still see alot of JB Hunt containers in the South seattle yard, with alot more of new Swift containers as well than the usual 53' dry vans.

dash9cw Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> AM, didn't Pacer International purchase APL
> several years ago?

No. NOL (Neptune Orient Line) purchased APL, but retained the APL name for maritime operations (ie. brand/name recongnition).

AM