(The following article by Suzanne Marta was posted on the Dallas Morning News website on September 10.)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. –- The nation’s largest railroad companies said they’re ready for the peak season, but the assurance did little to ease a standing-room-only crowd of nearly 500 shippers on Thursday.
Shippers at the customer forum complained that unpredictable service hasn’t gotten much better. They said they’re worried that even small disruptions can ripple through the network to worsen congestion.
“When you’re at capacity, there just isn’t much wiggle room,” said Richard C. Walters, manager of North American distribution for Air Products and Chemicals Inc.
Doug Kratzberg, rail transportation manager for Exxon Mobil Corp.’s global services unit in Houston, said Union Pacific Corp. and Fort Worth-based Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. missed 10 of 14 car-switching appointments during a recent two-week period.
“We have had some major issues and concerns,” he said. “It’s one thing to make sure all the executives are cooperating, but there is a lack of cooperation of people at the field level.”
Rail officials said system streamlining and added work crews and equipment should help.
“Don’t give up on our plans and processes,” said Jack Koraleski, executive vice president of marketing and sales for Union Pacific. “You’re going to see continuous improvement.”