North American Rail Giants Collaborate to Enhance Cross-Border Intermodal Service

In a strategic move to bolster cross-border transportation and meet the growing demand for freight services in Mexico, BNSF Railway (BNSF), GMXT (BMV: GMXT), and J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ: JBHT) have jointly unveiled an innovative intermodal service set to commence on January 1, 2024. This collaboration integrates the strengths of BNSF as North America’s largest intermodal rail, GMXT as Mexico’s premier rail provider, and J.B. Hunt as a major supply chain solutions provider.

The new intermodal service will facilitate seamless transportation between key markets in Northern and Central Mexico, specifically the Monterrey, Silao-Bajio, and Pantaco-Mexico City regions, utilizing the Eagle Pass, Texas border gateway. Significantly, this service promises to be one day faster than the existing route from Monterrey to Chicago, offering customers a reliable and environmentally sustainable option for transporting goods across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Katie Farmer, President, and CEO of BNSF expressed the organizations’ commitment to growth in Mexico, highlighting the collaborative effort as a direct manifestation of this commitment. Leveraging the extensive capacity and expertise of the three industry leaders, the intermodal service aims to seamlessly connect the North American intermodal network.

The operational framework involves trains carrying intermodal containers interchanging at Eagle Pass, Texas, in partnership with GMXT, which will operate the trains between the border crossing and the identified Mexican regions six days a week. An alternative route via the El Paso, Texas border gateway will also be available, presenting new growth opportunities for customers in the expanding Mexico markets.

John Roberts, CEO of J.B. Hunt, emphasized the resilience and cross-border solutions the new service offers to support customers’ evolving supply chain needs in Mexico. The cost savings and sustainability benefits inherent in intermodal service are touted as proven advantages, with the collaboration aiming to bring a robust service offering to reality.

J.B. Hunt, boasting the largest intermodal fleet in North America with over 117,000 containers and nearly 7,000 trucks, adds substantial weight to the partnership. Fernando López, CEO of GMXT, affirmed the company’s readiness to support freight demand growth in North America through flexible and high-quality rail services, positioning Eagle Pass as a strategic gateway for fostering trade between Mexico and the U.S.

Key advantages of the new intermodal service include unparalleled coast-to-coast market access through J.B. Hunt’s extensive North American reach, dedicated BNSF customer support ensuring 24/7 tracking, and streamlined customs clearance processes for southbound and northbound shipments.

BNSF, GMXT, and J.B. Hunt’s substantial investments in their intermodal networks underscore their commitment to competitiveness, reliability, and operational success. These investments are poised to benefit all customers, ensuring the long-term ability to handle future growth, particularly through the implementation of this groundbreaking intermodal service.