Archives

The Loup Team Celebrates the Holiday Season with Ugly Sweaters and a Gingerbread

Mexico Value-Added Tax (VAT) Change Effective January 1, 2022

Loup Launches New Hire Onboarding and Training Program, Loup U

Four Technologies Transforming the World of Freight Transportation

Released October 25, 2021

Article

In the world of logistics, it can be a challenge to keep up with the latest technology, but there are several advancements that have serious potential to forever change how you do business — helping you save time and transportation dollars.

3 Ways Transloading Benefits Your Shipping Strategy

Released October 8, 2021

Article

Wondering if incorporating rail into your shipping mix is a good idea? Here are three ways transloading – or moving shipments between trucks and trains – can help optimize your supply chain.

Are Logistics Challenges Keeping You Up at Night?

Released September 27, 2021

Article

Is there enough product in my pipeline? How can I mitigate shipping costs? Is my rail strategy optimized? Is my supply chain properly resourced?

Loup Transload Facility Highlight: Santa Fe Springs, California

Released September 17, 2021

Article

Loup’s Valla Transload Facility is located in Santa Fe Springs, California, and is operated by Savage Services. This transload facility, like our other transloading facilities, supports Loup’s effort in creating unique logistic solutions to meet the needs of our customers.

Employee Resource Group Involvement Highlight: Aaron Dwuznik

Released September 9, 2021

Article

Loup and our parent company, Union Pacific Railroad, have many initiatives in place to improve employee inclusion and engagement, including making a difference through employee resource groups (ERGs). One of those ERGs is UPVets .

Loup Delivers Ingredients for All Your Pizza Needs

Released September 1, 2021

Article

Loup can curate transportation solutions for almost any commodity. Our team recently received the opportunity to ship a product we know well: tomato paste!

Loup Announces New Carload Director Appointments

Released August 27, 2021

Article

Loup is excited to announce two new Carload director appointments: Devin Larsen and Kelly Overfelt.

Loup Transload Facility Highlight: El Reno, Oklahoma

Released August 16, 2021

Article

Looking to expand your market reach? Interested in finding ways to optimize your supply chain? Whatever you’re shipping, wherever you’re shipping it, Loup has the logistics expertise and a vast network to ship your products to just about any location – even if you don’t have tracks at your facility.

Rail 101: How Do You Access Rail?

Released August 10, 2021

Article

So, you’ve learned all about the benefits of shipping your products by rail and are ready to try it out. But what do you do if you don’t have access to tracks near your facility? Turn to Loup to help you seamlessly move your shipments between truck and rail. Our intermodal and transloading shipping options allow you to leverage the flexibility

Back-to-School Supplies Shipped by Rail

Released August 3, 2021

Article

It’s August, which means summer is coming to an end and school will be starting back up again soon. With a new school year upon us, there’s a good chance you may be heading to the store to purchase a wide variety of back-to-school supplies. Did you know many of the items on your list ship by rail? Check out some of the supplies that Loup and Union Pacific are able to help transport to arrive at a store near you.

Loup Transloading Facilities: What Is a Loup Transload Facility?

Released July 27, 2021

Article

Have you ever heard of the term “Loup Transport Facility?” What is a Loup Transload Facility and how do they keep your supply chain moving? We’re here to answer these questions for you!

Rail 101: Where Can You Ship with Rail?

Released July 20, 2021

Article

Rail is an important part of Loup’s custom shipping solutions. And if you are new to rail, you may be wondering where you can you ship. We’re here to answer that for you!

Employee Resource Group Involvement Highlight: David Black

Released July 13, 2021

Article

Loup and Union Pacific offer employee resource groups (ERGs) to support diversity and inclusion, promoting an environment where all team members can realize their full potential. These groups are making a difference, helping to raise cultural awareness, positively impact business objectives, improve creativity and innovation, build relationships, and foster professional development throughout the company and the communities we serve.

Internet of Things: The Future of Transportation?

Released July 6, 2021

Article

Remember when we talked about blockchain and how it could help track your packages? Well, the Internet of Things (IoT) can help with tracking shipments too and works in combination with blockchain technology to deliver real-time shipment visibility.

Top Safety Resources for Rail and Truck Transportation

Released June 29, 2021

Article

In the freight transportation industry, safety is always a top priority. In honor of National Safety Month, here are some resources to turn to for helpful tips and reminders about how to stay safe around trains and other transportation equipment.

Jack Haenggi Named General Director - Strategic Services

Released June 28, 2021

Announcement

Loup is pleased to announce a new general director appointment. Jack Haenggi will be General Director - Strategic Services effective July 1, 2021.

Rail 101: What Can You Ship by Rail?

Released June 22, 2021

Article

If you are new to shipping by rail, it can feel like there is so much to learn. We are here to help! Loup works diligently to develop transportation solutions that best solve your supply chain challenges, and oftentimes, we include rail in those shipping solutions. Through our intermodal and transloading solutions, you can take advantage of the economic benefits of rail while leveraging the flexibility of over-the-road trucking. So, what can you ship by rail? We’ve got your answers here.

Intermodal Container Loading Procedures and Regulations

Released June 17, 2021

Article

It’s National Safety Month and here at Loup, we understand the importance of adhering to proper loading procedures to keep our customers, our employees and shipments safe. Let’s take a look at the regulations for intermodal shipments as determined by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the weight limits outlined by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT).

Loup: Champion of the Wind Industry

Released June 8, 2021

Article

In honor of last Saturday, World Environment Day, and today being World Oceans Day, we’d like to highlight how Loup is supporting environmentally responsible initiatives, including helping the wind energy market grow. Wind is a clean, cost-effective, and renewable energy source that powers hundreds of communities and businesses across the United States. Energy is harnessed through the help of wind turbines, which are made up of approximately 8,000 components, including blades and turbine towers. Due to their massive size, various components of wind turbines are shipped across long distances to be assembled at wind farm locations across the country. Most importantly, the components need to ship in the safest, most environmentally responsible, economical, and efficient way.

Door-to-Door Shipping Services with Loup

Released June 1, 2021

Article

Have you ever wanted to avoid the stress and worry that comes with shipping your products? Managing complex supply chains, multiple vendors, varying schedules, and different data systems can be overwhelming. Loup can help! We specialize in taking your products from door to door, aka from your place to wherever you need your shipment to be.

Chinese Immigrants and the Transcontinental Railroad

Released May 25, 2021

Article

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and we’d like to celebrate by honoring the contributions the AAPI community has made in transportation history — specifically the first transcontinental railroad that was completed on May 10, 1869. Did you know that 20,000 Chinese immigrants helped build the transcontinental railroad? That is one of the reasons the month of May was chosen to be AAPI Heritage Month.

How Cloud-Based Technology Is Transforming Freight Transportation and Logistics

Released May 18, 2021

Article

If you have a smart phone, you most likely have hundreds, if not thousands, of files, photos and apps stored in “the cloud.” We all know the cloud is not white, fluffy and floating in the sky, but do you really know what it is and what it does?

Blockchain: The Future of Transportation?

Released May 10, 2021

Article

Have you ever tried tracking a package only to find limited shipment information available? With the help of blockchain technology, this very well could be an issue of the past.

Loup Transport Facility Highlight: Denver, Colorado

Released May 3, 2021

Article

By combining the economics of long-haul rail service with the flexibility of over-the-road movements, Loup provides seamless door-to-door transportation solutions.

Hyperloop: The Future of Transportation?

Released April 23, 2021

Article

What is Hyperloop?

Hyperloop is cutting-edge, high-speed transportation technology that has the potential to transform how we travel – and even how we ship freight. This new travel mode started gaining traction in 2013 after Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and co-founder of Tesla, shared his vision of a new way to transport passengers: Hyperloop Alpha. This transportation system would consist of magnetically levitated pods that travel through tubes at speeds up to 760 miles per hour, which is just below the speed of sound!

Loup Announces New Director Appointments

Released April 15, 2021

Article

Loup is excited to announce two new Director appointments: David Black and Kiley Freeman.

Loup Bilingual Employees: Improving the Customer Experience for Our Spanish Speaking Partners

Released April 14, 2021

Article

At Loup, we’re fortunate to have many talented employees on our team. For some of our team members, those talents include speaking two languages. Because Loup’s extensive network facilitates shipping across all of North America, including Mexico, our bilingual employees play a vital role in conducting business with our Spanish speaking partners. Learn how three of our bilingual employees add value in their day-to-day interactions with customers and vendors.

Loup Transloading Facility Highlight: Shreveport, Louisiana

Released April 09, 2021

Article

With the help of our top-notch transloading facility facilities, Loup is able to offer various transloading opportunities to our customers. One of those transloading facilities is located in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Shreveport transloading facility is operated by Black Gold Terminals, a subsidiary of Blacklands Railroad.

How Loup Empowers Our Female Employees

Released March 31, 2021

Article

As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re honoring some of the hardworking women who have helped make Loup what it is today. Here, women in varying roles share how they feel about their experiences worki

Women Who Made History in the Transportation Industry

Released March 17, 2021

Article

For Women’s History Month, we are celebrating and honoring the women who made an impact on transportation history. Without these women, the transportation industry wouldn’t be where it is today.

Autonomous Vehicles: The Future of the Transportation Industry?

Released March 16, 2021

Article

Get ready transportation industry, autonomous vehicle technology continues to advance — and that means autonomous trucks and vehicles, or “driverless cars,” will be on the road sooner than you think. Several companies are developing autonomous vehicle options, which could mean big changes are ahead for the transportation industry.w-how.

Let’s Talk Logistics: 10 Transportation Terms You Should Know

Released February 26, 2021

Article

Do you feel like your transportation vocabulary is lacking? Would you like to expand your knowledge of supply chain terms? You’re in luck! We’ve compiled a list of transportation and logistics terms and definitions to boost your industry know-how.

UPDATE: Plan for Reopening Remaining Intermodal Terminals

Released February 18, 2021

Announcement

Following our prior announcement on our intermodal terminal reopening plan, our winter weather command center has developed the following plan for the remaining terminals on our network.

Josh Perkes Named Vice President of Loup

Released February 18, 2021

Announcement

Effective Monday, March 1st, Josh Perkes has been named Vice President of Loup.

How Service Recovery Ensures Your Shipments Arrive on Time

Released February 18, 2021

Article

Since the beginning of the pandemic, people have grown accustomed to pivoting quickly to new circumstances and creating a Plan B, C or even D when worse comes to worse. While we must adjust quickly in our personal lives, it’s also true when it comes to unexpected disruptions in your supply chain. And that’s where service recovery comes in. Whether you’re transporting goods via rail or truck, service recovery provides the best back up plan to make sure shipments arrive on time when things go awry.

URGENT: Systemwide Gate Closures on Union Pacific Network

Released February 15, 2021

Announcement

To Our Premium Intermodal Customers,

Extreme winter weather continues to impact operations through much of the Union Pacific network, including the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest and the Southern Plains.?

How to Employ Sustainable Logistics Practices

Released February 4, 2021

Article

Sustainability is a topic that’s becoming increasingly important among businesses. When companies focus on sustainability, they work to create practices that bring less impact to the environment and can be sustained for the long term. Sustainability has three pillars: environmental, economic and social. This means the practice should be sustainable for not only the environment, but also for financial stakeholders and society as a whole. When it comes to sustainability, logistics is no exception.? Read More

The Value of Just-In-Time Delivery with Loup

Released January 27, 2021

Article

Have you ever wondered how a vehicle gets made? In the 1960s, Toyota developed a Just-In-Time vehicle production system creating a lean process to manufacture cars quickly and efficiently that continues to be used today. Because of the high level of automation, Just-In-Time manufacturing is extremely dependent on auto parts being in the right place at the right time. But what happens if parts aren’t available? Read More

Get to Know Loup’s Carrier Relations Team: A Day in the Life of a Loup Senior Manager of Carrier Relation

Released January 19, 2021

Article

Meet Dustin Scheel. He is a Senior Manager on Loup’s Carrier Relations Team. Dustin started his career at Loup’s parent company, Union Pacific Railroad, in 2006. It was his first job out of college. “After working the position for a few months, I decided I really enjoyed working here and that I wanted to grow within this company,” he said. Fifteen years later, he’s still enjoying his role.

Get to Know Loup’s Carrier Relations Team: A Day in the Life of Loup’s Director of Carrier Relations

Released January 12, 2021

Article

Meet Susie Sweeney. Susie is the Director of Loup’s Carrier Relations Team and has worked for Loup’s parent company, Union Pacific Railroad, for 22 years. “I wanted to work at Loup because you can move quickly and manage your own business area,” Susie said. “I feel valued in my position and believe I’m able to make a difference at Loup as I’m empowered to make decisions.” Susie especially appreciates that at Loup, if you manage data and have a solid business case, you can implement new solutions.

How Transloading Can Solve Your Transportation Challenges

Released January 7, 2021

Article

Are you looking to lower transportation costs, expand your reach, or leverage a more environmentally friendly transportation option? Transloading can help.

Get to Know Loup’s Auto Parts Team: A Day in the Life of a Loup Senior Manager of Intermodal Auto Parts Operationsions

Released December 16, 2020

Article

Meet Joel Pedroza. Joel is a Senior Manager of Intermodal Auto Parts Operations. He has been with the Loup for 6 years. “I decided to work at Loup because a close friend of mine invited me to apply,” Joel said. “I’m glad he did.”

Happy Holidays from Loup!

Released December 10, 2020

Announcement

A special holiday video message from your friends at Loup Logistics. Thank you for your business and happy holidays! ”

Get to Know Loup’s Auto Parts Team: A Day in the Life of a Loup Senior Director of Auto Parts Operations

Released December 10, 2020

Article

Meet Steve Knott. Steve is a Senior Director of Auto Parts Operations who has worked for Loup and Loup’s parent company Union Pacific Railroad for 22 years. “Growing up in Omaha, Union Pacific was one of the most respected companies in the city, so the company’s reputation was a big reason I wanted to work here,” Steve said. “It’s been a privilege.

Get to Know Loup’s Carload Team: A Day in the Life of a Loup Carload Operations Manager

Released December 4, 2020

Article

Meet Olutosin Makinde. He is a Loup Carload Operations Manager who has worked for Loup and Loup’s parent company, Union Pacific Railroad, for a combined total of nine years. What brought Olutosin to the company? “Union Pacific Railroad is a great organization with fantastic individuals,” he said. “It provides a unique opportunity to utilize my leadership, sales, and customer service skills to improve organizational processes and enhance Union Pacific Railroad strategic objectives.”

Get to Know Loup’s Carload Team: A Day in the Life of a Loup Senior Carload Logistics Manager

Released November 23, 2020

Article

Meet Matt Bosch. He is a Carload Senior Logistics Manager who has worked for Loup’s parent company Union Pacific Railroad for a total of 14 years, with four of those years spent at Loup. Matt chose to work at Union Pacific because he loves the opportunity to engage with so many different industries in the course of supporting customers’ needs. “It keeps things interesting, fresh, and challenging,” he said.

Get to Know Loup’s Carload Team: A Day in the Life of a Loup Carload Sales Manager

Released November 18, 2020

Article

Meet Jessica Olson. She is a Loup Carload Sales Manager who has worked for Loup’s parent company Union Pacific Railroad for 10 years, with three of those years spent at Loup. What made Jessica choose Union Pacific? “I thrive in fast-paced environments and wanted an opportunity to directly impact bottom-line results,” she said.

Get to Know Loup’s Carload Team: A Day in the Life of Loup’s General Director of Carload

Released November 12, 2020

Article

Meet Mike Coleman. For the last three years he has served as General Director of Carload for Loup Logistics. Prior to that, he spent 10 years with Loup’s parent company Union Pacific Railroad. Why did Mike choose a career with Union Pacific Railroad? “It’s a great organization with a strong value proposition in the market-place,” he said. “Union Pacific has fantastic teams and individuals to collaborate and grow with, and has a dynamic business environment that is constantly evolving into new and unique challenges.”

Get to Know Loup’s Carload Team: A Day in the Life of a Loup Facilities Manager

Released November 12, 2020

Article

Meet Tim Naprstek. Tim is a Facilities Team Manager for Loup Carload and has worked for Loup for three years. In February, he will have worked for Loup’s parent company Union Pacific Railroad for 25 years! Congratulations Tim!

Get to Know Loup’s Carload Team: A Day in the Life of a Loup Carload Marketing Manager

Released November 09, 2020

Article

Meet Dana Ratcliff. She’s a Loup Carload Marketing Manager, who has worked for Loup and our parent company Union Pacific Railroad for a combined total of 13 years, with the last year and a half spent at Loup. Dana is a fourth generation Union Pacific railroader, so working at the railroad is, as she puts it, “kind of in my blood.”

Get to Know Loup’s Carload Team: A Day in the Life of a Loup Marketing Manager

Released November 03, 2020

Article

Meet Elizabeth Leddy. She has been a Marketing Manager at Loup for 3 years. Before Elizabeth originally interviewed at Loup’s parent company Union Pacific Railroad about 9 years ago, she knew almost nothing about the railroad. “I applied at Union Pacific because I had just obtained my MBA with a specification in Marketing and Sales and wanted to utilize those skills. All I knew was UP’s excellent reputation and history and wanted the opportunity to work there,” she said. “Nine years later, it’s still one of the best decisions I’ve made.”

Wholesale Intermodal: Transporting Everything on the Shelf for the Holiday Season

Released October 30, 2020

Article

Wholesale Intermodal delivers large quantities of any dry good you can think of, from electronics to clothing and more. That includes the types of holiday necessities you probably have in your home this time of year: fall décor, Christmas trees, dreidels, stockings, and even the goodies found inside the stockings. Do you like to hang lights up on your house? Wholesale delivers those too. Are you one of those savvy Black Friday shoppers? Wholesale stocks shelves with products full of deals. We even deliver ingredients that go into your favorite holiday foods or drinks.

Get to Know Loup’s Wholesale Team: A Day in the Life of a Marketing and Pricing Manager

Released October 28, 2020

Article

Get to know our Wholesale Marketing and Pricing department by learning about the daily logistics and supply chain responsibilities of Marketing and Pricing Manager LaTisha Adams.

Get to Know Loup’s Wholesale Team: A Day in the Life of a Loup Intermodal Sales Manager

Released October 26, 2020

Article

Get to know our Wholesale Sales department by learning about the daily logistics and supply chain responsibilities of Intermodal Sales Manager Abby Gorham.

Get to Know Loup’s Wholesale Team: A Day in the Life of a Loup Customer Service Manager

Released October 20, 2020

Article

Loup Wholesale Operations Customer Service Manager Jessica Bell and her team deliver a high level of service to their customers.

Get to Know Loup’s Wholesale Team: A Day in the Life of a Dispatch Manager

Released October 12, 2020

Article

Meet Mark Karpf. He has worked at Union Pacific for a total of 8 years and has been in his current role as the Dispatch Manager for the Western United States for 2.5 years.

Loup Revises Lumber Storage Program at Dallas Transloading Facility

Released September 30, 2020

Announcement

Effective October 1, 2020, Loup will offer free outdoor ground storage for lumber products through the remainder of 2020.

Loup’s COVID-19 Response Plan

Released March 14, 2020

Announcement

To address ongoing service for our customers during the COVID-19 outbreak, Loup’s parent company, Union Pacific, has a pandemic operating plan in place.

FCA Recognizes Loup as Outstanding Intermodal Carrier

Released November 22, 2019

Announcement

We are excited to announce that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has recognized Loup with the “Outstanding Performance – Intermodal Carrier” award. FCA presented the award to Loup at the annual carrier conference in Detroit, Michigan, on November 6.

Kari Kirchhoefer Named Vice President of Loup

Released September 27, 2019

Announcement

Effective Friday, September 27, Kari Kirchhoefer has been named Vice President of Loup. Kari has more than 26 years of experience with Loup's parent company, Union Pacific Railroad, and has held leadership roles on Union Pacific's Industrial, Chemicals, Autos and Agricultural Products teams, as well as former subsidiary Streamline. Most recently, Kirchhoefer served as Vice President-Industrial at Union Pacific. We look forward to the strong leadership and vision Kari will bring to leading Loup forward as we continue to provide innovative transportation solutions to our customers.

If you have any questions, please contact your Loup representative.

Loup Wholesale Intermodal to Implement Standard Union Pacific Per Diem

Released September 10, 2019

Announcement

To align with Union Pacific's Unified Plan 2020 efforts with focus on effective asset management, Loup Wholesale Intermodal will be implementing standard Union Pacific (UP) per diem at UP domestic ramps for containers in "Placed for Loading" or "Placed for Unloading" status more than 6 days.

Inbound Logistics Names Loup a Top 100 3PL Provider for Third Consecutive Year

Released August 1, 2019

Announcement

For the third consecutive year, Loup is honored to be named a 2019 Top 100 Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Provider by Inbound Logistics magazine. With hundreds of companies submitting credentials, we are delighted to see Loup selected as a top provider, and our employees’ dedication to providing top-notch service to our customers celebrated with this designation.

Announcing the 2019 Loup Select Connect Facilities

Released December 5, 2018

Announcement

This week, Loup announced its 2019 Select Connect facilities, a designation given to a select group of premiere transloaders in its more than 700-facility transload network.

Loup Opens New Transload Facility in Oklahoma to Meet Local Frac Sand Needs

Released August 3, 2018

Announcements

Oklahoma is home to STACK, an active shale play located near the central portion of the state. Production levels are rising in this area, which is great news for oil producers, but they face a challenge: frac sand is required for the horizontal drilling process that produces their product, and the very best sand for the job, northern white sand, is located all the way up in Wisconsin and Minnesota. This very challenge is what drove a Loup solution: establish a transload facility in El Reno, Oklahoma — right in the middle of the STACK shale.

Inbound Logistics Names Loup a Top 100 3PL Provider

Released August 2, 2018

Announcements

We’re delighted to announce Inbound Logistics magazine has named Loup a 2018 Top 100 Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Provider. This marks the second year Loup employees have been honored for their dedication to providing top-notch service to our customers, as last year UPDS, one of the subsidiaries that merged to form Loup, also earned the designation.

Loup Operations Carrier Support Team Realigned

Released March 13, 2018

Announcements

In an effort to improve the quality and timeliness of responses to carrier inquiries, we have realigned our carrier support team within Loup's Operations department.

Loup Appoints New Operations Director

Released February 14, 2018

Announcements

Loup is excited to welcome a new member to the team: Mike Dickmeyer will serve as Loup’s Senior Director of Operations - Intermodal & Auto Parts. In his role, Mike is responsible for all of Loup’s intermodal operations, leading the Intermodal Operations team, and ensuring Loup meets the specialized needs of our intermodal and auto parts customers.

Coming Soon: ShipmentVision Capacity Manager

Released December 13, 2017

Announcements

Exciting enhancements are coming soon to our advanced shipment tracking platform, ShipmentVision. Starting this spring, Loup will offer Capacity Manager, a new functionality that gives customers unprecedented visibility to their inbound rail cars across all rail carriers. Capacity Manager is being rolled out now on a limited basis and will be available for a wider audience in early 2018.

UPDS Receives SmartWay Excellence Award for Second Consecutive Year

Released November 8, 2017

Announcements

UPDS (now Loup) is proud to have been honored with a SmartWay® Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the second consecutive year. UPDS was once again recognized as an industry leader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency.

Loup Logistics Launches Today

Released November 1, 2017

Announcements

Today marks the very first day of business for our new company, Loup Logistics. Loup is the result of a merger of four subsidiaries, Union Pacific Distribution Services (UPDS), Streamline, ShipCarsNow and Insight Network Logistics (INL) into a single, wholly owned Union Pacific subsidiary: Loup.

A Day in the Life of a Logistics Service Representative

Released September 27, 2017

Articles

Meet Ashley Eisert. She’s a Logistics Service Representative, which means she uses her expertise to manage customers’ shipments by providing logistics support, problem solving and proactive monitoring.

Every day, Ashley helps ensure our customers’ products are moving efficiently by road and by rail to arrive at their destinations on time.

A Day in the Life of a Senior Logistics Manager

Released September 20, 2017

Articles

Meet Lori Nicholson. She served as the Senior Logistics Manager for Carrier and Contract Services at UPDS. We’re excited for the opportunity to feature Lori, since she recently retired! So perhaps we should say this is a day in her former life…

Lori was the leader of the Carrier Services team, which supports off-rail logistics by providing motor carrier and contract services at a competitive price.

Conference Recap: Transload Facility Operators Conference

Released September 13, 2017

Events

At UPDS, transloaders aren’t vendors — they are critical partners in our network. That’s especially true for those who operate our transload facilities. In honor of these hardworking partners, we recently held a conference specifically for transload facility operators so we could spend some quality time together and ultimately better serve our customers.

Extending Market Reach With Rail: Shipping Composite Railroad Ties

Released September 6, 2017

Solutions In Action

What do hard plastics have to do with railroading? In some places, they are the foundation of the railroad — literally.

Event Recap: The FCA Affiliate Rewards Road Tour

Released August 30, 2017

Events

Confession time: At UPDS, we get a little nerdy about cars. That’s because our Intermodal team helps ship the parts that eventually become finished vehicles.

So we were pretty excited when the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Affiliate Rewards Road Tour rolled into town.

UPDS Named Top 100 3PL Provider by Inbound Logistics

Released August 16, 2017

Announcements

After hundreds of companies submitted credentials, we’re proud to say UPDS has been named one of the Top 100 Third-Party Logistics Providers of 2017 by Inbound Logistics magazine.

This annual list, compiled by Inbound Logistics editors, celebrates logistics service providers that offer the capabilities and experience needed to meet readers' unique supply chain and logistics needs.

Customer Spotlight: First Star Recycling

Released August 9, 2017

Articles

When you think about recycling, you probably imagine used paper being made back into paper and empty aluminum cans being reused to make, well, more cans. But some pretty interesting materials can be produced from recycled materials.

Just ask Omaha-based UPDS customer First Star Recycling. They collect recycled materials from residences and businesses (including UPDS and our parent company Union Pacific), sort and process them, then ship them off to customers who give them new life. Yes, paper may become paper and aluminum may be reincarnated into another can, but that plastic park bench you sat on the other day? Or your carpet — or even the clothes you’re wearing? First Star customers use recycled materials to make all of those things, too.

Connecting Construction Sites to Rail

Released August 2, 2017

Solutions In Action

Have you ever stopped to think about how many materials are delivered to a construction site? Contractors know that in order to get the job done, a very long list of supplies must arrive on time and in the right order. That means the transportation of those materials is critical to the success of the job. But did you know transportation can also help contractors win jobs in the first place?

Thwarting Theft and Damage: Shipping Tequila Safely

Released July 19, 2017

Solutions In Action

Tequila can be a tricky product to ship. For one, the containers are glass, so they break easily. Tequila is also a high-value product, making it an attractive target for theft.

The Benefits of Rail Meet Just-In-Time Delivery

Released July 12, 2017

Articles

Recently, Kenny Rocker, vice president and general manager of industrial products for our parent company, Union Pacific, published an article in Building Products Digest about “Last Mile Delivery & the Evolving Rail Transportation Marketplace." Rocker explains that by providing transloading and forward-staging options, lumber and building supply shippers get the benefits of rail while maintaining the just-in-time delivery their customers require.

Supplier Spotlight: San Jose Distribution Services, Inc.

Released June 28, 2017

Articles

California-based warehousing and transloading provider San Jose Distribution Services, Inc. (SJDS) has a reputation for its rail knowledge and focus on safety — so you could say we have a couple things in common. That makes them a perfect fit for the UPDS transloading network.

A Day in the Life of a Logistics Service Representative

Released June 21, 2017

Articles

Meet Alexandra Tomo. She’s a Logistics Service Representative who provides logistics support for customers and operators for our transload facilities, which provide transloading services and are all served directly by our parent company, Union Pacific Railroad.

Greasing the Wheels for a Successful Bid

Released June 14, 2017

Articles

If there were an award for persistence, Fremont, California-based transloader Truck-Rail Handling would win it. For the last year, the company has bid on UPDS transloading jobs, but we simply haven’t been able to find the right fit. Recently, the right opportunity arose — and their persistence paid off.

Conference Recap: The 2017 Mexico Carrier Conference

Released June 7, 2017

Events

At UPDS, we don’t see our relationships with suppliers as merely transactional. Rather, we see suppliers as a critical part of our network with whom we work to find new business opportunities and develop the best solutions for our customers.

In the spirit of working collaboratively, the UPDS intermodal team recently hosted 10 Mexico-based intermodal dray carriers at our 2017 Mexico Carrier Conference in Monterrey, Mexico. Over the course of two days, more than 60 people, including our key railroad providers, gathered to network and create stronger bonds that will benefit our respective businesses, our customers and the automotive industry.

Turning Trash Into Treasure: Helping Waste Haulers Win More Bids

Released May 31, 2017

Solutions In Action

When a building is torn down, have you ever paid attention to what they do with the rubble? Most people don’t. But there it sits: tons upon tons of crushed rock, cement and brick as well as dirt and other debris. Before the site can welcome its new purpose, it all must be removed.

Supplier Spotlight: ADS Logistics Co, LLC

Released May 17, 2017

Articles

When it comes to transloading, ADS Logistics Co, LLC is a jack of all trades: They transload sheet metal in coil form, metal sheets/blanks and bars, ingots, paper rolls, lumber, drywall, pipe, conduit, machinery, plate, slabs, billets, I-Beams, composite railroad ties, and numerous other non-hazardous cargo from boxcars, coil cars, gondolas, flat and center beam cars. For the last four years, they’ve been helping UPDS customers get access to rail through safe and efficient transloading services.

Realizing Transloading Potential: Moving Malt to Key Markets

Released May 10, 2017

Solutions In Action

You might have noticed microbreweries have grown in popularity over the last few years. As the craft beer market has boomed, we’d like to say we played a small part in it.

But what does beer have to do with UPDS? While we can’t take credit for the final product, we can take credit for delivering some of its ingredients, like malt. Recently, we’ve helped malt shippers get access to affordable product storage and rail shipping — and that means key markets are getting the ingredients they need to make those delicious brews.

UPDS and Fellow Union Pacific Subsidiaries Unite to Celebrate Excellence

Released May 3, 2017

Events

At UPDS, we thrive on finding innovative transportation solutions for our customers, so it’s only fitting that we make a point to celebrate the hard work and ingenuity of the teams who make those solutions happen. We do so at our annual Summit Awards ceremony, which celebrates the previous year’s achievements.

This year’s celebration, held on April 27, was a little different, though. Instead of celebrating on our own, we teamed up with fellow subsidiaries Streamline, which specializes in door-to-door intermodal services, and ShipCarsNow, which provides multi-modal auto transport.

Supplier Spotlight: Dassler Domestic Logistics

Released April 19, 2017

Articles

'Small but mighty' is a fitting description for Dassler Domestic Logistics, an intermodal trucking company and valued UPDS supplier based in Louisville, Kentucky. Dassler’s fleet is comprised of just over 100 power units, but it’s their size that allows every person on their team to provide strong service and a personalized commitment to their customers.

Slashing Demurrage Costs: Leveraging Logistics to Optimize the Supply Chain

Released April 12, 2017

Solutions In Action

Shipping can be a complicated matter. Although most people think it’s a “Point A to Point B" operation, when a company is receiving raw materials to create a product, shipments come from multiple origins — so it’s more of a “Point A, B, C, D, E to Point F" scenario. When these shipments all arrive at the same time, things can get complicated…and costly.

Reducing Transit Time: Bringing Barite to Denver

Released April 5, 2017

Solutions In Action

Recently, barite became the latest product on the UPDS shipping roster. What is barite, you might ask? Barite is a mineral used as a weighting agent in drilling muds (also called “drilling fluids"), which are used to ensure safe and effective drilling of oil and natural gas wells.