BNSF Logistics, LLC, an international multi-modal logistics service provider, recently announced its acquisition of Transportation Technology Services, a widely recognized leader in engineering and logistics services focused on rail solutions for over-dimensional cargoes with particular expertise and market presence in the wind energy industry. The transaction follows other wind energy investments, including BNSFL’s Blade RunnerSM technology investments, which are research and development efforts focused on the emerging longer dimensional aspects of the wind energy market. Since its founding in 2001 as a rail engineering company, TTS has evolved to become a highly respected provider of specialty services ranging from railcar design to loading, inspection and management of complex project cargo shipments.
“TTS’s engineering and design capabilities, extensive wind fixtures, and rail transload locations coupled with their talent, and market expertise in industrial products are a perfect fit for our broader expansion into the industrial products sector that handles freight of all sizes. When combined with our existing multi-modal and transload capabilities, BNSFL becomes a leader in North America in multi-modal capacity and ability for the Industrial Products sector,” said BNSFL president Ray Greer. “The innovation and value we will be able to bring to our customers just increased significantly.”
Currently managing a fleet of nearly 2,000 rail cars for various clients, of which 1,200 are equipped with patented fixtures designed to handle wind turbine components including blades, tower sections and nacelles, TTS is a significant addition to the more than 9,700 rail shipments BNSF Logistics currently manages. With the ongoing development of BNSFL’s Blade Runner technology to handle ever lengthening turbine blades via ocean and rail, the combined company will have an extensive and flexible fleet of wind component handling systems in North America. Between the two companies, BNSFL and TTS have collectively developed and managed nearly 50 unique project cargo transload sites across the U.S. over the past six years.
Scott Landrum, TTS’s founder and president added, “The TTS team is excited to have the resources and support of BNSF Logistics and their team to enable us to expand further in offering our customers the best solutions and greatest value for managing complex shipping needs anywhere in the world.”
TTS will become the U.S. Rail, Project Cargo and Engineering Services division for BNSFL. The combined unit will have extensive capacity, hundreds of years of combined practical experience and strong relationships and credibility with the major players in Wind Energy, Power Generation, Oil & Gas, Heavy Machinery and the EPC and Manufacturing communities.
BNSF Logistics’ stated vision is: To be a premier, global, multi-modal logistics services and solutions provider serving North American clients here and around the world. The company has been moving forward, developing organically and through acquisition to achieve that vision. TTS’s strong competencies, industry standing and customer confidence in wind energy logistics, rail services for over-dimensional and project cargo, as well as their deep engineering and design capabilities address organizational and service portfolio needs within BNSF Logistics. With a dozen engineers and design specialists on staff and a field services team of similar size, TTS has strong expertise in areas that are critical to effectively planning and executing over-dimensional freight movements by rail.
Scott Landrum and John Dalman, TTS’s General Manager, are continuing with the new organization in key senior leadership roles with the new Rail, Project Cargo and Engineering services division of BNSF Logistics. The company is well-positioned with existing staff, and also expects to support the current growth trend by making additional hires in the months ahead. Additional terms and conditions of the transaction are not being disclosed.
— Source: BNSF Logistics
