Union Pacific International Intermodal Container Accessibility and Flip Charge Change

Announcement Number: PR2023-20
Categories: All Premium
Posted Date: February 24, 2023

Dear Premium Customers,

Union Pacific's wheeled operational model is an efficient intermodal solution for the marketplace that streamlines ramp dwell, improves driver experience, and keeps customer's freight moving. In the past year, supply chain challenges resulted in extended street time, which significantly impacted marine chassis supply. This lack of marine chassis availability resulted in the need to stack containers in an operation designed to be wheeled, which impacted the efficient flow of cargo. We temporarily adjusted our storage policy to account for these supply chain challenges, but we recognize the importance for customers to be able to access all containers in stacks if that situation arises again.

We will remain a wheeled operation at our ramps, outside select hybrid locations; however, we have made capital investments in equipment and adjusted our processes to make all containers accessible at all UP ramps excluding Council Bluffs, Salt Lake City and Santa Teresa (El Paso). In addition, investments are currently underway to make the excluded locations accessible as well. Should stacking occur, customers can access their stacked shipments by bringing a marine pool chassis or a marine private chassis. As the market changes, we are changing with it to remain the international intermodal rail supplier of choice.

As part of the changes above, effective May 1, 2023, Union Pacific will adjust chassis flip charges for international containers to $115 per transaction at all locations. Chargeable flip requests are initiated by customers or drayage providers and not a result of any Union Pacific intra-terminal operations. 

Please contact your Union Pacific representative with any questions.

Sincerely,

Premium Marketing and Sales