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(erielack) Fw: UPS Trains

Another info tidbit from Bill. This problem with empty trailers moving back and forth and being interchanged at gateways like Chicago was the main reason for the trend beginning in the 70's for trailers to be "free runners". They'd haul loads wherever available, collecting per diem for the owner. For those unfamiliar with MARTRAC, it was a reefer trailer UPS subsidiary formed in 1979 to balance the WB parcel "headhaul" to the west coast with EB perishables, in the manner Bill describes. Presumably "MAR" was short for "market".

Paul B
 
- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: ShepRail_@_aol.com 
To: doctorpb_@_bellsouth.net 
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2005 10:46 AM
Subject: Re: UPS Trains


I think you've got the gist of it. Not sure about the origin of empty trailers on the ATSF, as it could have been Corwith Yard in Chicago for that matter. EL at Croxton, for example, would default to using  NY97 for return of empty intermodal equipment to connecting carriers.

Although unsure exactly when UPS formed MARTRAC, other cooperative arrangements were in place before then to ensure that UPS had a ready supply of empty trailers at Croxton and other locations. For example, UPS commonly used clean, empty refrigerated trailers to ship packages westbound. Of course, the refrigeration unit was not required for this portion of the trip. 

                                                                                                         Bill


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