NUEVO VALLARTA, NAY.- BNSF , JB Hunt and GMXT have joined forces to launch Quantum in Mexico , a cross-border intermodal service that will add greater freight capacity.
Quantum will operate on key routes connecting major cities and industrial centers in Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey) and the United States (Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, the West Coast, and eastern destinations).
Spencer Frazier, JB Hunt’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, said the service promises a 95 percent on-time delivery rate .
“This happens through partnership, commitment, as well as the integration of people and long-term planning; and we work with our clients to develop specific SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) so we can deliver that 95%,” he stated during Quantum’s presentation at the 26th Intermodal Congress 2025, organized by the Mexican Intermodal Transport Association (AMTI) .
Quantum’s service was launched in 2023 by JB Hunt, one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, and BNSF, the largest intermodal railroad in North America, but it only operates in the United States; but both now join GMXT, one of the largest railroad operators in Mexico .
“It’s a consistent and competitive service. We believe this will be a game-changing level of service, and we can reassure ourselves, at the most sensible speed of service, that intermodal can clearly be an innovation and a solution,” said Jon Gabriel, vice president of BNSF’s Consumer Products Group.
Quantum utilizes the latest advancements in tracking and monitoring systems, providing real-time visibility and control of shipments , minimizing delays and optimizing throughput. Support teams designated by JB Hunt, BNSF, and GMXT will provide 24/7 oversight, ensuring consistent and reliable transit times, including features such as priority transportation and railcar loading and unloading.
It’s worth remembering that in 2024, JB Hunt, BNSF, and GMXT launched intermodal service to and from Mexico via the Eagle Pass Gateway.
“This is a clear example of how we can develop or borrow from the United States’ creativity to expand to Mexico,” said Luis Hernández, GMXT’s vice president of Intermodal.
As more companies turn to Mexico to solve supply chain challenges, the country has become one of the world’s top 10 exporters , with more than two-thirds of its exports destined for the United States. Key export industries include automotive, manufacturing, agriculture, electronics, and other service-sensitive cargo areas. Nearly 70% of the cargo transported across the U.S.-Mexico border is transported using traditional land transportation.
Currently, intermodal transportation in Mexico represents just 4% of total freight movements transiting the country, a far cry from the 11% that occurs in the United States.
The collaboration between BNSF, JB Hunt and GMXT seeks to capitalize on the untapped potential of intermodal service for companies moving freight in and out of Mexico, including converting intercity ground freight to rail intermodal and optimizing container efficiency .
Proponents of intermodal service tout it as a more widely available ground transportation solution for reducing carbon emissions, reducing a shipment’s carbon footprint by an average of 65% compared to intercity ground transportation.
