Starting next May, JB Hunt Transport will begin transporting refrigerated containers via an intermodal service between Monterrey, Mexico, and Pennsylvania , USA , a route that represents up to 15% savings compared to trucking.
Johnny Curiel, the company’s vice president of Mexico Services, explained that with this new client, they estimate an increase of 1,200 shipments , compared to the 6,000 currently handled by road.
“This client has had several reasons for switching to intermodal. They want to reduce their costs, but they also have internal environmental goals and find it very attractive because it helps them reduce their carbon footprint from shipping by more than 60%,” he said in an interview with T21.
The expectation with this client is to convert between four thousand and five thousand shipments to intermodal, with the remainder continuing by road.
He specified that this cargo will be transported through Ferromex , crossing through Piedras Negras, where it interchanges with BNSF . This will generate savings of between 10% and 15% compared to trucking. Furthermore, it has containers that can be opened and closed remotely.
“Our containers have a locking mechanism that we can install from our office so the doors can’t be opened. It’s a lock that can be activated, not remotely, once we load it, seal it, and that’s another benefit compared to trucking,” he commented.
He explained that the refrigerated intermodal service will move products that do not require inspection, although there are also exemptions. Therefore, if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requests it, it will be carried out at BNSF yards in Eagle Pass, where they have cold storage facilities to maintain the supply chain.
He noted that railroads such as BNSF and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) are working on a project to resolve the origin inspection so that this type of service can be extended to imported goods.
However, he stated that having refrigerated service via train between Mexico and the United States is “a very important change for the market , it didn’t exist, last year it started with CPKC and us, before if they wanted this service between the countries it was only necessarily by road and it works and is a good option, but now we have this, they can take advantage of the advantages of the railroad in terms of scale, benefits and efficiencies to reduce their cost and their carbon footprint.”
It is worth mentioning that in 2024, it began with a service between Monterrey and Chicago , derived from the potential they observed in this segment between Mexico and the United States, a country where these types of movements are already carried out and which also sees greater growth.
“We’re having very similar discussions in the United States where clients are looking to do the same. Other opportunities could begin this year,” he said.
Similarly, Johnny Curiel commented that, as a result of the transfer of the majority of the CPKC network’s intermodal service to Ferromex in conjunction with BNSF during the first quarter of 2025, they achieved 40% year-over-year growth. Meanwhile, their ground traffic remained at levels similar to those in 2024.
“In 2025, we’re focusing our energy on converting highways to intermodal. There’s a greater opportunity for customers who ship between Mexico and the United States, and vice versa, to increase and make their operations more efficient, reduce costs, and increase the resilience of their supply chains,” he said.
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