BNSF Logistics and Autolog Corporation have announced the expansion of the Car-Rail service to include numerous Midwestern cities. Using BNSF’s fleet of autoveyor equipment, the Car-Rail service caters to the needs of "snowbirds" – individuals with dual residences who spend the winter in Arizona or those who are relocating to the Phoenix area.
The service is managed by Autolog's Car-Rail division, and co-ordinated through BNSF Logistics' CarsOnTrack program.
Specifically, the Car-Rail service will now be available to residents of Chicago, Ill.; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.; and other Midwest cities via truck transport connection to the rail terminals.
“Effective September 27th, 2004, the Car-Rail service will commence operations on a regular basis from Elwood, Ill., and St. Paul, Minn., to Phoenix,” says Myron Levine, president of Autolog Corporation. Vehicles can be dropped off at these terminals, or Autolog will collect vehicles from private residences.
The CarsOnTrack operation provides sufficient fully enclosed auto haulers to protect the vehicles from damage. The average transit time for vehicles using the Car-Rail service from Chicago to Phoenix is 10-12 days, versus the 14-21 days for an independent car hauling company. The cost to transport a standard sized vehicle will start at $495.
During the past 25 years, Autolog has opened shipping terminals all across the country, and currently operates in excess of 100 terminals, located in most major cities in the United States. These local stations provide a hub for linehaul operations as well as a local pick-up and delivery system that can take a customer's automobile from door to door
