Freight Cargo Map of the United States

- / N2N / – I have an acquaintance who owns a small, non-asset third party logistics (3PL) company.  He is constantly complaining to me about how cutthroat the transportation business is and how his customers and vendors are always cheating him out of money.  He spends a great deal of time trying to collect money and often ends up having to sue companies in order to get them to pay.

I’ve been involved in the transportation industry for a little over three years now and I can tell you that my experience has been exactly the opposite of that of my friend’s.  In three years I haven’t had a single customer stiff me for so much as a penny.  Sure, there’ve been a few slow-pays, but that’s to be expected.  In these 3 years I’ve met a lot of good people and I now consider many of them to be friends.

As a consultant that helps companies get C-TPAT certified my primary customers are importers, NVOCC’s (non vessel operating common carriers / international freight forwarders), U.S. Customs Brokers and Cross-Border Highway Carriers.  I also offer a program called “C-TPAT Compliant” for those companies that aren’t eligible for C-TPAT certification such as draymen, customs bonded warehouses, domestic trucking companies, most 3PL’s and domestic shipping and distribution companies. I think that’s a pretty good cross-section of the industry.  Even so, I’ve never encountered anyone who’s tried to cheat me.

Maybe I’ve just been lucky or maybe I’m just plain naive.  But what about you?  I’d be very interested to hear about your experiences.  I’m sure there are probably a lot of horror stories out there, but I’ll bet there are also some nice stories about transportation companies watching out for each other and stepping up to do the right thing.

——

Jeff Platts is the president of Combination Sales, Inc., a consulting firm with locations in California & New York.  Jeff can be contacted at 714-788-1531 or jeff@combinationsales.com.

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management.  contact@nation2nation.net.

Marijuana found in rail car

“Every day, our officers and agriculture specialists are out on the line, looking for threats to our way of life,” said Port Director Guadalupe Ramirez, “and successes like this make their time and effort worth every minute.”

The first interception happened at around 2:00 p.m., when officers inspecting an incoming cargo train noticed discrepancies in an x-ray image of a rail car. When they opened the car, the officers found 25 bundles of marijuana, weighing 593 pounds. Estimated value of the marijuana is more than $504,000.

The second interception happened at around 6:30 p.m, when officers inspecting commercial trucks and produce coming into the country selected a tractor and trailer carrying squash for inspection. Officers screening the vehicle with an x-ray system noticed discrepancies in the image and decided to conduct a full inspection of the vehicle and goods. The inspection revealed 212 bundles of marijuana mixed with the squash. A total of 4,748 pounds of marijuana was seized, along with the vehicle. Estimated value of the marijuana is more than $4 million.

The driver was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for further investigation.

A criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Office of Field Operations is responsible for securing our borders at the ports of entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers’ primary mission is anti-terrorism; they screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. Their mission also includes carrying out traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases, and enforcing trade laws.

While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.

Source = CBP

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.net.

“Some companies choose to pursue C-TPAT Certification all on their own.” said Jeff Platts, the C-TPAT Consultant who helped Airlift obtain their certification. “Achieving C-TPAT Certification is a difficult and challenging process. A good consultant can really help smooth the way.”

With its headquarters located near LAX, Airlift (USA), Inc. has offices and affiliates in the U.S., Asia, India and the UK. Airlift is led by its president, Ganesh Murthy. The company expertly coordinates shipments all over the world. Mr. Murthy can be reached at 1-877-724-7543, or by e-mail at ganesh@airliftusa.com.

Jeff Platts, a C-TPAT Consultant, is the founder and president of Combination Sales, Inc. as well as the publisher of nation2nation.net. Jeff can be reached at 714-788-1531, or by e-mail at jeff@combinationsales.com.

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.net.

The first seizure occurred at about 11:30 a.m., when a CBP officer referred a 26-year-old Mexican citizen driving a 1991 Freightliner Tractor to the secondary examination area for further inspection.

The tires of a Freightliner Tractor attempting to cross into the U.S.A. from Mexico were stuffed with packages of Marijuana

During the secondary examination, an x-ray of the vehicle displayed anomalies, and a detector dog alerted officers to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. An intense inspection led to the discovery of 36 wrapped packages of marijuana concealed in the tires of the tractor. The total weight of the narcotic was 435 pounds with a street value of $217,500.

The second seizure occurred at the Otay Mesa Rail Yard where vigilant officers were scanning the incoming rail cars with a rail x-ray. Officers noticed anomalies in two rail cars. Officers had the bottom door of the hopper open and they discovered a total of 16 bundles which had been magnetically attached to the structure of the rail car. The weight of the narcotic was 202 pounds with a street value of $101,000.

And the third and final attempt was at approximately 4:50 p.m. when a 1996 Freightliner tractor and trailer driven by a 37 year-old Mexican citizen entered the inspection facility, and the primary officer referred the tractor and trailer to the secondary inspection dock and x-ray area. CBP officers noticed anomalies in the x-ray and conducted an intensive inspection of the cargo in the trailer. A narcotic detector dog alerted to the presence of narcotics. Officers completely unloaded the trailer, which claimed to contain tackle boards for carpet installation. Concealed within the boxes of tackle strips, there were 263 packages of marijuana with a total weight of 1,883 pounds with a street value of $941,500.

These pickup trucks are filled with Marijuana that was confiscated at the Otay Mesa border crossing in just one day.

The total amount of marijuana seized was 2,520 pounds with an estimated street value of $1,260,000.

CBP officers turned over the custody of the two individuals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. All are awaiting arraignment at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego. CBP seized the drugs, the tractors, and trailer. The rail car was released as soon as it was verified to not have any more narcotics.

Source = CBP

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.net.

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the Freight TSI has risen 4.7 percent over the last 13 months, starting in June 2009, after declining 15.3 percent in the previous 10 months beginning in August 2008. The index has increased in 10 of the last 13 months. Through the first six months of 2010, the index declined 1.6 percent. The decline resulted from a 3.1 percent decrease in March following an upward revision of February numbers and the 0.4 percent decrease in May coupled with increases in January, February, April and June. For additional historic data, go to http://www.bts.gov/xml/tsi/src/index.xml.

The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments in ton-miles, which are then combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.

The June Freight TSI of 97.9 is a 4.7 percent increase from the recent low of 93.5 reached in May 2009. In May 2009, the index was at its lowest level since June 1997. The June Freight TSI is down 13.3 percent from its historic peak of 112.9 reached in May 2006.

Although the index rose 4.1 percent from June 2009 to June 2010, it remains below the level of every other June since 1997 when it was 92.4. January 2010 was the first month since July 2008 in which the Freight TSI exceeded the level of the previous year. The index has exceeded the previous year’s level every month since January but still remains below the level of recent earlier years.

The freight index is down 11.8 percent in the five years from June 2005. The index is down 2.3 percent in the 10 years from June 2000.

The TSI is a seasonally adjusted index that measures changes from the monthly average of the base year of 2000. It includes historic data from 1990 to the present. Release of the July index is scheduled for Sept. 9.

For a video explanation of the TSI, see Overview of the Transportation Services Index. A BTS report explaining the TSI, Transportation Services Index and the Economy, is available for download.

Transportation Services Index for Passengers

The TSI for passengers fell 0.1 percent in June from its May level. The Passenger TSI June 2010 level of 111.2 was 1.8 percent above the June 2009 level after a 7.0 percent decline from June 2008 to June 2009. The index is up 2.1 percent in five years and up 11.1 percent in 10 years.

The passenger TSI measures the month-to-month changes in travel conducted in the for-hire passenger transportation sector. The seasonally adjusted index consists of data from air, local transit and intercity rail.

Combined Freight and Passenger Index

The combined freight and passenger TSI rose 0.2 percent in June from its May level. The combined TSI June 2010 level of 100.8 was 3.5 percent higher than the June 2009 level. The combined index is down 8.5 percent in five years, but is up 0.7 percent in 10 years despite recent declines. The combined TSI merges the freight and passenger indexes into a single index.
2nd Quarter Changes

The Freight TSI rose 0.1 percent in the second quarter, the third quarterly increase in the past four quarters. The Passenger TSI rose 1.6 percent in the second quarter, reversing two consecutive quarterly declines. The combined TSI rose 0.5 percent in the second quarter, rising after one quarterly decline.
More on TSI

NOTE: TSI numbers for February (Freight, Passenger and Combined) were revised because of revisions in the output data of the component transportation services. The February Freight TSI is 100.9, revised from the 96.9 reported in last month’s release. The February Passenger TSI is 108.2, revised from 107.8. The February Combined TSI is 102.4, revised from 99.3. The TSI for March, April, May and June are preliminary.

TSI revision policy: TSI is updated monthly with the latest four months’ index numbers considered preliminary. Each month BTS releases the latest preliminary TSI, and replaces the oldest preliminary TSI with a revised TSI. More information about the monthly revision policy, is available at http://www.bts.gov/xml/tsi/src/index.xml.

More information about the comprehensive revision conducted with the July release is provided under 2009 Comprehensive Revision at http://www.bts.gov/xml/tsi/src/index.xml.

Source = RITA

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management.  Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Folding Intermodal Container

The patented Staxxon method for addressing the empty container repositioning problem uses a design approach that honors existing container industry standards (IMO, ISO, CSC), maintains the structural integrity of the +25M steel containers in use today, respects existing supply chain relationships and avoids the need for sophisticated new equipment or procedures at terminals. Staxxon’s solution allows existing steel containers to be retrofitted or new containers to be built for folding. The retrofit option provides container fleet owners, operators and lessors with a new option for increasing utilization while reducing operating costs associated with moving, storing and repositioning empty containers. The cost to retrofit (or the incremental cost to add folding to a new container) is coupled with a rapid return on investment from increased utilization and operating cost reduction.

Staxxon founding CEO and folding container inventor George Kochanowski said “While others have focused on the use of horizontal collapsing methods or use of composite materials in containers, Staxxon’s designs are laser focused on the top business issues facing carriers, ports, terminal operators and container fleet operators: faster vessel turns, better container and sea-going vessel utilization, more efficient management of empty containers, lower terminal and depot operating costs, effective use of limited capital and, above all, preserving the safety, standards and workflow involving containers.”

Staxxon is a two year old self-funded startup company headed by Kochanowski that is currently based near Dayton, Ohio. USA. The company is preparing to build its third prototype – a 40′ dry high cube container – and is seeking advance feedback from key intermodal industry organizations and individuals. Following CSC evaluation of the 40′ prototype, Staxxon will be approaching prospective customers regarding field trials. Staxxon is also discussing funding options with prospective investors to accelerate the commercialization of its designs and methods.

“We want to insure that our technology and business model are well aligned with the current and future container industry market and product requirements” remarked Kochanowski, “You can never have too much customer input at this stage in the innovation process.”

Staxxon’s core folding methods were recognized by the US Patent and Trademark Office in April 2010 when a patent was issued to Kochanowski. Staxxon’s will license its patented designs and know-how to container fleet operators, owners, lessors, manufacturers and repair/storage depot operators.

Telephone or text message: +1.937.217.7829
Blog/About: http://staxxon.posterous.com

Photos/Video: http://www.flickr.com/people/staxxon/

Source = 24-7

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

A company’s reportable injury rate is calculated using the number of lost workday injuries per 200,000 worker hours, or per 100 employees working in a full year.

“Our approach is that all injuries can be prevented,” said Bob Grimaila, Union Pacific vice president – Safety, Security and Environment. “Great teamwork combined with employees embracing best practices and looking out for one another is critical to each person’s individual safety.”

Many factors account for Union Pacific’s safety performance, including:

Implementing job safety analyses, where each task is broken down into its component parts to identify the best way to perform each job. This leads to standardized work processes that are incorporated into training and coaching.
Evaluating new ideas that challenge the status quo to improve work rules.

- Committing to the company’s Total Safety Culture, an employee-owned process that empowers employees. The voluntary process focuses on training, observations and feedback.

- Developing proactive safety improvement efforts that evaluate close calls to better predict the potential for accidents.

- Establishing risk mitigation and assessment processes.
Communicating with fellow employees about safety best practices as well as at-risk behaviors.

- Dedicating $40 million in 2009 to enhance workplace training.

“We believe a zero accident rate is achievable because in every accident there is an opportunity to prevent it,” Grimaila said. ““We want everyone to go home from work in as good or better condition than when they arrived.”

About Union Pacific
Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America’s leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers and provides Americans with a fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly and safe mode of freight transportation. Union Pacific’s diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad emphasizes excellent customer service and offers competitive routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada’s rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico.

Source = Business Wire

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

If there is no settlement resulting from trains operating over the bridge’s approaches, KCSM expects to operate up to 25 to 30 trains over the Nuevo Laredo gateway by late Monday night, and plans to remove all service embargos that were established on July 3 in the aftermath of Hurricane Alex at that time.

“We are very pleased to have the Nuevo Laredo gateway opened again for cross border traffic,” said KCS president and chief operating officer Dave Starling. “Given the magnitude of the damage to this bridge, coupled with the difficult conditions under which our crews had to work, it is a great accomplishment that we were able to put the Anahuac Bridge back into service this weekend and plan to lift the embargos tomorrow night.”

Rail service in northern Mexico was disrupted for all carriers as a result of Hurricane Alex, which made landfall in northeast Mexico on June 30. Highway infrastructure throughout northern Mexico also was severely damaged. The hurricane caused significant track damage around the Monterrey and Saltillo areas as well as on the lines to Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros.

“The disruption of service caused by Hurricane Alex has been very significant; however, our team has worked very hard to restore service to our customers as quickly as possible,” said KCSM president and executive representative Jose Zozaya. “We will continue to work very closely with each of our customers to resume the normal flow of traffic to their facilities.”

For further service status updates, please refer to the KCS Recent News window on the home page of www.kcsouthern.com.

Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., KCS is a transportation holding company that has railroad investments in the U.S., Mexico and Panama. Its primary U.S. holding is The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, serving the central and south central U.S. Its international holdings include KCSM, serving northeastern and central Mexico and the port cities of Lázaro Cárdenas, Tampico and Veracruz, and a 50 percent interest in Panama Canal Railway Company, providing ocean-to-ocean freight and passenger service along the Panama Canal. Kansas City Southern’s North American rail holdings and strategic alliances are primary components of a NAFTA Railway system, linking the commercial and industrial centers of the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

Statements about future results made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements that may be identified by the use of words like “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate” and “project.” Forward-looking statements reflect management’s good-faith evaluation of information currently available. However, such statements are dependent on and, therefore, can be influenced by, a number of external variables over which management has little or no control, including: domestic and international economic conditions; interest rates; the business environment in industries that produce and consume rail freight; competition and consolidation within the transportation industry; fluctuation in prices or availability of key materials, in particular diesel fuel; labor difficulties, including strikes and work stoppages; credit risk of customers and counterparties and their failure to meet their financial obligation; the outcome of claims and litigation; legislative and regulatory developments; political and economic conditions in Mexico and the level of trade between the United States and Mexico; changes in securities and capital markets; disruptions to the Company’s technology infrastructure, including its computer systems; natural events such as severe weather, hurricanes and floods; acts of terrorism or risk of terrorist activities; and war or risk of war. For more discussion about each risk factor, see Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in each of KCS’s and KCSM’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and any updates contained in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q. Forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as, a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at or by which any such performance or results will be achieved. As a result, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Neither KCS nor KCSM undertake any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements.

Source = Business Wire

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

“Beyond strong earnings growth, the real highlight was achieving a 69.4 percent operating ratio – our first sub-70 quarterly mark, ” said Jim Young, Union Pacific chairman and chief executive officer. “We demonstrated great volume leverage, efficiently handling an 18 percent increase in carloadings at modest incremental cost. This is a tremendous achievement for the men and women of UP, who not only operated a very safe and efficient network, but also drove an all-time-high for customer satisfaction.”

Second Quarter Summary

Second quarter business volumes, as measured by total revenue carloads, grew 18 percent versus the prior year’s recession-impacted levels. This is the first time in six years that all six Union Pacific business groups reported volume growth in the same quarter. Quarterly operating revenue increased 27 percent in the second quarter 2010 to $4.2 billion versus $3.3 billion in the second quarter 2009. In addition:

* Freight revenues for all six business groups increased in the second quarter, up 27 percent versus 2009 to a total of $4.0 billion. Driving the increase were double-digit volume growth, increased fuel cost recoveries and core pricing gains.
* Quarterly diesel fuel prices increased 46 percent from an average of $1.57 per gallon in the second quarter 2009 to an average of $2.29 per gallon in the second quarter 2010.
* Union Pacific’s operating ratio was a best-ever 69.4 percent, an 8 point improvement versus 2009. Strong volume growth combined with ongoing efficiency initiatives and quarterly pricing gains drove the record performance.
* The Company’s Customer Satisfaction Index of 89 was a quarterly best and 2 points better than the second quarter 2009.
* Quarterly train speed, as reported to the Association of American Railroads, was 26.4 mph, down 4 percent versus record velocity in the second quarter 2009. Operations were slowed by June flooding in the Midwest and network infrastructure replacement and improvement programs.
* The Company repurchased nearly 6.5 million shares in the second quarter 2010 at an average share price of $71.74, and aggregate cost of approximately $466 million.

Summary of Second Quarter Freight Revenues

* Automotive up 105 percent.
* Intermodal up 35 percent.
* Industrial Products up 30 percent.
* Chemicals up 19 percent.
* Energy up 17 percent.
* Agricultural up 13 percent.

Outlook

“While the pace and direction of the economic recovery is uncertain, we expect and are prepared to handle continued volume growth on our network, both in 2010 and beyond,” Young said. “As carloadings increase, we are focused on meeting the increased expectations of customers and shareholders to move new and existing business safely, efficiently and more profitably. We’re also planning for tomorrow, investing for growth as we deliver higher shareholder returns.”

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America’s leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers and provides Americans with a fuel-efficient, environmentally responsible and safe mode of freight transportation. Union Pacific’s diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad emphasizes excellent customer service and offers competitive routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada’s rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico, making it North America’s premier rail franchise.

Source = Union Pacific

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

KCS is using all available resources to recover including sending equipment, track materials, and personnel into Mexico from the U.S. KCSM is working with connecting carriers to maximize opportunities for movement and staging of trains so that when the lines do reopen and congestion clears service will return to normal as soon as possible.

It is too early in the recovery process to estimate the financial impact of the repairs and business interruption which KCS and KCSM currently expect will be reflected primarily in their third quarter financial results. KCSM maintains insurance intended to cover events such as this with self-insured retention amounts ranging from $5 million to $10 million, depending on the nature of the loss. KCS is working with its insurers to assess the damage as well as with customers to minimize the impact of the service outage to their distribution networks.

KCS president & chief operating officer, David Starling, stated “Our principal concern is for the safety of the communities and employees impacted by the hurricane and the resultant flooding. KCSM personnel are doing an exceptional job in assessing the situation and preparing our system to reopen as soon as possible. I am pleased with the level of emergency response and with the urgency our employees have demonstrated in this difficult situation.”

For further service status updates, please refer to the KCS Recent News window on the home page of www.kcsouthern.com.

Headquartered in Kansas City, MO, Kansas City Southern is a transportation holding company that has railroad investments in the U.S., Mexico and Panama. Its primary U.S. holding is The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, serving the central and south central U.S. Its international holdings include Kansas City Southern de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., serving northeastern and central Mexico and the port cities of Lázaro Cárdenas, Tampico and Veracruz, and a 50 percent interest in Panama Canal Railway Company, providing ocean-to-ocean freight and passenger service along the Panama Canal. Kansas City Southern’s North American rail holdings and strategic alliances are primary components of a NAFTA Railway system, linking the commercial and industrial centers of the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

Statements about future results made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements that may be identified by the use of words like “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate” and “project.” Forward-looking statements reflect management’s good-faith evaluation of information currently available. However, such statements are dependent on and, therefore, can be influenced by, a number of external variables over which management has little or no control, including: domestic and international economic conditions; interest rates; the business environment in industries that produce and consume rail freight; competition and consolidation within the transportation industry; fluctuation in prices or availability of key materials, in particular diesel fuel; labor difficulties, including strikes and work stoppages; credit risk of customers and counterparties and their failure to meet their financial obligation; the outcome of claims and litigation; legislative and regulatory developments; political and economic conditions in Mexico and the level of trade between the United States and Mexico; changes in securities and capital markets; disruptions to the Company’s technology infrastructure, including its computer systems; natural events such as severe weather, hurricanes and floods; acts of terrorism or risk of terrorist activities; and war or risk of war. For more discussion about each risk factor, see Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in each of KCS’s and KCSM’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and any updates contained in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q. Forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as, a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at or by which any such performance or results will be achieved. As a result, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Neither KCS nor KCSM undertake any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements.

Source = Business Wire

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management.  Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.