(The Omaha World-Herald posted the following article by Grace Shim on its website on February 13.)
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad said Wednesday that it is the first U.S. railroad to participate in the U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.
Union Pacific said it is working with the Customs Service to report to the government agency the contents of ocean-going cargo containers it receives at West Coast ports as well as rail cars that travel to and from Mexico and Canada.
The company also will enact policies that increase security in a global supply chain that includes shippers, carriers and others involved in international commerce.
U.P. spokesman John Bromley said that the company has worked closely with the Customs Service, and the partnership is an outgrowth of those past efforts.
Jim Michie, public affairs officer for the Customs Service in Washington, D.C., said the agency is looking for partnerships with all transportation companies to secure the supply chain to maintain security and move goods.
Omaha-based U.P., the world’s largest railroad, is the largest shipper of goods across the U.S. and Mexico border. In addition, U.P. has rail access to Canada.