(Florida East Coast Railway issued the following news release on June 10.)
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Florida East Coast Railway, L.L.C., the transportation subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries, Inc., has named John C. Lucas as Vice President/General Manager of Intermodal, reporting directly to FECR President John D. McPherson. Lucas will be responsible for all sales, marketing, customer service and drayage service efforts in the Intermodal Division and will concentrate on increasing revenue by growing FECR’s existing customer relationships and developing new markets.
“John Lucas’ vision and leadership skills make him the perfect fit forthis important new position and he has the proven ability to create anIntermodal Division that is aggressive in the area of sales and marketing,”said John D. McPherson, FECR’s president. “FECR intends to further penetratethe retail truckload market between the Southeast U.S. and South Florida. OurIntermodal Division now has the leadership in place to drive this effort.”
The Intermodal Division was formed by integrating certain drayage andcustomer service operations, previously provided by a separate subsidiary, into the Railway. In addition to directly focusing on the retail market, the newly formed division will also be responsible for furthering the success of FECR’s wholesale intermodal segment by servicing Intermodal Marketing Companies (IMCs), parcel carriers, Less-Than-Truckload Companies (LTLs), truckload carriers, ocean carriers and railroads.
Intermodal is an important part of FECR’s business. Approximately 40% of FECR’s freight revenue (nearly twice the Class I proportion) is currently derived from the intermodal segment due to Florida’s unique market and the Railway’s excellent customer service record. The Railway provides scheduled, on time, dependable and damage free service. “We have the ability to give customers the option of using our assets instead of tying up their own in the congested South Florida market,” said McPherson. “And the Railway is particularly proud of providing 471 consecutive days of failure-free service for United Parcel Service, a worldwide record. We intend to build on this success.”
FECR’s successful Hurricane Train, a marketing alliance with Norfolk Southern to provide premium intermodal service between Atlanta and South Florida, is averaging approximately 900 loads per month after one full calendar year of operation. Additionally, FECR has recently initiated intermodal service to several major customers, including BJ’s Wholesale Club, ConAgra Foods, Pepsi Bottling Group and U.S. Xpress.
“I am particularly excited about the opportunity to join FECR and lead a dynamic, growth-oriented organization. The Intermodal Division provides a foundation to increase revenue and to generate greater overall profit for the Company,” said John C. Lucas, FECR’s vice president/general manager of intermodal. “FECR has had success in the intermodal segment over the last year with the Hurricane Train. It is now time to look at the I-95 corridor north of Jacksonville to develop additional marketing alliances with other carriers.”
FECR’s intermodal services parallel I-95 for approximately 350 miles, offering an attractive opportunity for truck freight to move by rail. This moves freight off Florida’s congested highways and gives companies the ability to access markets quicker and more efficiently by using premium rail intermodal service.
“Lucas has a strong transportation background with a deep understanding of the intermodal industry. His proven leadership abilities and his success in growing the existing customer base in his previous positions will bring FECR market development strength, market breakthrough experience, and proven entrepreneurial strategies,” added McPherson.
Lucas has spent his entire professional career in the truck and rail intermodal transportation industry. His thirty-three year transportation career includes approximately 15 years with the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe (“BNSF”). He gained greater responsibility during his tenure, serving most recently as Assistant Vice President – Domestic Truckload Marketing, responsible for managing and growing BNSF’s $900+ million domestic truckload segment, which included IMCs and truckload motor carriers. At BNSF, Lucas was recognized for increasing business in the very important parcel/LTL segment by over 10% per year over the last six years.
Lucas received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma and received his MBA with high honors from Oklahoma City University.
About Florida East Coast Industries, Inc.
Florida East Coast Industries, Inc., headquartered in St. Augustine, FL, conducts operations through two wholly owned subsidiaries, Flagler Development Company (Flagler) and Florida East Coast Railway, L.L.C. (FECR). Flagler owns, develops, leases and manages 6.9 million square feet of commercial and industrial space, including 403,000 square feet under construction, and owns approximately 930 acres of entitled land and 5,200 acres of additional Florida properties. FECR is a regional freight railroad that operates 351 miles of main line track from Jacksonville to Miami and provides intermodal drayage services at terminals located in Atlanta, Jacksonville and Miami. For more information, visit the Company’s Web site at http://www.feci.com.