Norfolk Southern picks TNT Logistics to operate vehicle facility

Norfolk Southern picks TNT Logistics to operate vehicle facility

   Norfolk Southern Corp., a major U.S. railroad, has contracted with TNT Logistics North America Inc., a provider of supply chain services, to operate a vehicle mixing center in Kansas City for handling finished cars and trucks for the Ford Motor Co.

   A source in Kansas City confirmed the deal. TNT Logistics North America refused to identify the name of its client. Norfolk Southern had no comment, according to a spokesman.

   At the facility, 165 TNT employees will process more than 600,000 automobiles annually. 'The center receives vehicles from more than 20 Ford Motor Co. manufacturing plants across the U.S. and Canada. The operation essentially functions as a giant cross-dock for mixing and merging railcars, as well as automobiles within railcars. The objective is to switch and build trains of finished automobiles that all have the same rail hub as their destination,' said Todd Pye, manager of rail sector business development for TNT Logistics North America.

   TNT Logistics North America is based in Jacksonville, Fla.