Industry Spotlight LOGISTICS
The Logistics of
Doing Business
North Texas region offers premier global distribution hub
A key component of the North Texas
“Union Pacific Intermodal operates one
region’s economic success is its sophisticated of the largest container fleets in the country
and integrated transportation infrastructure. and has the line haul capacity to enable
manufacturers to safely and reliably move
This includes three intermodal hubs, Class I
their goods to market,” said Robert Kelly
rail services, a large interstate highway
of UP’s Intermodal Marketing Group.
system with direct NAFTA access, and a
“With Texas being the largest manufacturing
network of commercial airports. As the
economy, Union Pacific’s Intermodal and
nation’s fifth-largest global exporter, the
Carload products provide tremendous
region has positioned itself as a premier
customer value from the movement of raw
global logistical hub offering direct access
materials to finished goods.”
throughout the Americas and Asia with
Union Pacific also operates a facility
more competitive distribution costs than
just east of Dallas in Mesquite, which
any major U.S. logistics center.
connects the region to North America and
specific hubs located in the western U.S.,
Railroads and Intermodal Hubs
Midwest, East Coast and Canada.
The North Texas region is served by three
Class I railroads: Union Pacific Railroad
(UP), BNSF Railway and Kansas City
A Major Component to the Supply Chain
Southern (KCS). Having access to these
Intermodal shipping has always been an
railroads contributes to North Texas being a integral part of the manufacturing supply
highly efficient, superior distribution hub.
chain, as it reduces transport costs and
The railroads operate out of three
moves bulk between road, rail and
intermodal hubs within the area. BNSF
oftentimes by air. It’s a means to strategically
Railway operates out of the Alliance Global
gain capacity, improve sustainability and
Logistics Hub located in Fort Worth, and
reduce costs across the supply chain.
Recently recognized as one of the top
is a combined international and national
logistics-friendly locations in the U.S.,
intermodal facility. As one of the nation’s
largest inland ports, Alliance handles all
North Texas has an exceptional and rare
N Today’s demanding
direct Asian imports and exports from the
intermodal system, which is a key reason
global market, logistics
West Coast. (Learn more about the Alliance
why many companies set up logistics and
capabilities are essential for
Global Logistics Hub on page 12.)
distribution operations in the region. A slew
a company’s competitive
The Dallas Intermodal Terminal (DIT)
of manufacturers – from home appliance
strategy and survival.
is managed by Union Pacific, and is located
companies to construction and engineering
Delivering products to meet market
corporation