Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF rail car shortage for Toyota and Ford

BNSF's Warren Buffet has committed to order almost 1,900 bi level Auto racks as the rail car shortage grows. I would assume the UP may have a similar challenge looming.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/buffett-rail-shortage-has-toyota-parking-suvs-at-us-plants/ar-BBiacl2

Interesting, none of the plants mentioned in the article are served by BNSF. That's what happens when the reporter is in Tokyo. I thought UP is the dominate carrier for autos in the west. Maybe BNSF is sensing an opportunity to snag some new business.

BNSF handle quite a bit out of Kent, Tacoma (via Tacoma Rail) and Portland's Terminal 6 along with Union Pacific at basically the same locations.

Will the additional autoracks be held captive on BNSF rails or
will they just be added the general pool and benefit everyone?

It seems to be quite common on Trainorders to see BNSF corporate moves attributed to Warren Buffett. Anyone that knows anything about how Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway operates, know that he doesn't meddle in day to day decisions of his companies. The companies have competent leaders, and he let's them do their jobs without micromanaging. At BNSF, Matthew Rose and Carl Ice are calling the shots.

radar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It seems to be quite common on Trainorders to see
> BNSF corporate moves attributed to Warren Buffett.
> Anyone that knows anything about how Warren
> Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway operates, know that
> he doesn't meddle in day to day decisions of his
> companies. The companies have competent leaders,
> and he let's them do their jobs without
> micromanaging. At BNSF, Matthew Rose and Carl Ice
> are calling the shots.


It's purely a logistics problem mostly out of the control of the railroads.

Look how many auto and truck production facilities there are in Mexico. Some people might be shocked at how many. Several new "plants" are being built. Since most of the cars/trucks built are going to the American and Canadian market that means GM, Ford, Nissan, ect. need A LOT of empty auto carriers going to Mexico just to be loaded with new vehicles and sent back north.


Allen

bradleymckay Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> radar Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It seems to be quite common on Trainorders to
> see
> > BNSF corporate moves attributed to Warren
> Buffett.
> > Anyone that knows anything about how Warren
> > Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway operates, know
> that
> > he doesn't meddle in day to day decisions of
> his
> > companies. The companies have competent
> leaders,
> > and he let's them do their jobs without
> > micromanaging. At BNSF, Matthew Rose and Carl
> Ice
> > are calling the shots.
>
>
> It's purely a logistics problem mostly out of the
> control of the railroads.
>
> Look how many auto and truck production facilities
> there are in Mexico. Some people might be shocked
> at how many. Several new "plants" are being
> built. Since most of the cars/trucks built are
> going to the American and Canadian market that
> means GM, Ford, Nissan, ect. need A LOT of empty
> auto carriers going to Mexico just to be loaded
> with new vehicles and sent back north.
>
>
> Allen


hello NAFTA

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