Automotive Network Update for Friday, September 13, 2024

OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
BNSF operating teams have generated improved performance metrics this week while confronting service challenges from Hurricane Francine, which made landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday evening. Although Francine was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved inland, heavy rains, power outages and flooding impacted the area. BNSF teams pre-positioned track equipment and supplies, including generators and fuel tanks in advance of the storm to aid in service response and recovery efforts. Our temporary permit embargo issued on Tuesday affecting all traffic originating or destined to move through the area was canceled last night. Traffic moving through the region should continue to normalize in the coming days.

Regarding key service metrics, overall car velocity has improved by over six percent from August. For the past two weeks, average car velocity has been above the 200-mile-per-day mark for the first time this year. Terminal dwell, at the lowest weekly average this year, has improved nine percent from the previous week and fourteen percent from last month. Our local service compliance, which measures our efficiency in handling carload freight, is over ninety percent and has improved from last week and month. Volumes, which have been trending upwards, were down slightly compared to the prior week, reflecting the Labor Day holiday.

SERVICE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
We remain focused on maintaining positive performance momentum throughout fall harvest and as we prepare for the peak holiday shipping season. These preparations include completing track expansion projects and our mainline maintenance projects on key routes. Thanks to the efforts of BNSF engineering crews and operating teams, we are well prepared to head into peak shipping season.

The last of the storms associated with Francine are moving across the Southeast, bringing isolated storms and flash flooding to Northern Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle today. Favorable operating conditions are expected across much of the BNSF network during the upcoming week, and no major outbreaks of severe weather are currently anticipated.
 
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