OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific has announced that customers can now access rail through-rates and easy-to-use instructions on the UP Web site for their MexDirect product, offered in conjunction with the Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana and other participating rail connections.
MexDirect, first introduced last year, is the industry’s first “one-stop” rail product for shipments moving between major markets in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Union Pacific and Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana (TFM ) also announced the expansion of this innovative product, first introduced to cover iron and steel sheet or coil, to include other steel products, lumber, and various panel products.
“We have had better-than-expected results from our introduction of this competitive alternative to premium priced trucking both northbound out of Mexico and southbound into Mexico for steel products,” said Drew Collier, UP vice president Mexico. “Expanding the list of commodities covered by MexDirect and putting them on our Web site makes it much easier for customers to look at and take advantage of this cost saving alternative.”
Additional commodities, such as paper and various consumer products will be available soon.
MexDirect features include:
- Single point of contact to service both sides of the border;
- Easy-to-use information on doing business between the U. S., Canada and Mexico, such as how to obtain credit, place car orders, create bills of lading and trace cars, including customs clearance requirements;
- A single bill, in U. S. dollars;
- Multiple warehouse and transload options;
- Geographic reach through participation by Canadian Pacific, CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads.
Union Pacific, which recorded $870 million in Mexico revenues in 2002, has the shortest route structure between Laredo, Texas and major Midwestern and Eastern markets either directly or through connections. TFM has the shortest route structure between Laredo, Texas and major Mexican markets such as Monterrey, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, Mexico City and Guadalajara.
