Railroad Tech: How Union Pacific is Boosting Efficiency

Union Pacific is making big moves with technology. They are focusing on safety, service, and making operations better. This is all part of their plan to give customers real-time information, which is now expected by everyone. The company is using something called APIs. These APIs let different software systems talk to each other and share data. This means customers can get real-time updates on their shipments, which is super helpful for knowing where things are and what's happening. Union Pacific has 65 different APIs. These APIs cover things like invoices, shipment tracking, car orders, and routes. Over 300 customers have signed up, and about 100 are actively using them. The company is excited about all the tech they are investing in. They have even added GPS tracking to almost all of their containers. This gives customers a clear view of their shipments at almost every step. The GPS also includes door and load sensors, which can send alerts and trigger responses when containers move in or out of certain areas. By the end of the year, 1, 500 railcars will have RailPulse technology. This digital platform gives real-time data on things like load status, door sensors, and brake sensors. All these improvements are expected to make things safer, reduce costs, boost efficiency, and make the customer experience better. The company has also launched an updated website and a new customer portal. This new portal is a one-stop shop for all shipment, waybill, and invoice information. Union Pacific is also using technology to make their intermodal operations better. They have improved driver feedback and gating processes. The UPGo mobile app for truck drivers is a big part of this. The app helps reduce wait times at ramps, making things more efficient for drivers and customers. The company has also used data from gate technology to find ways to reduce wait times for drivers. This has led to shorter wait times, faster turn times for drivers, and a better process for beneficial cargo owners. The company is also using precision gating technology within the app. This technology scans trucks, containers, and chassis to identify potential issues and start the ingate process automatically. The new Kansas City Intermodal Terminal, opening in July, will include precision gate, UPGo, and GPS technology. All of these things are meant to drive efficiencies at the ramp and make the driver experience better. Union Pacific's operational strategy is all about using technology to make things safer and better for customers. They use something called adaptive planning to keep service reliable. This planning takes information from events and feeds it into a computer system. The system then calculates the best response to the event in just minutes. This is crucial for a network that stretches over 32, 000 miles of track. The system helps UP reroute trains quickly in case of events like flooding. The company has also deployed technology in the field to automate and optimize some operations. For example, the MobileNX technology used by crews in terminals can reduce the dwell time for the average manifest car. The engineering department has also used technology to change how the railroad distributes and installs ties. This has generated 50, 000 hours of additional capacity. Union Pacific has also spent nearly $40 million to help with cargo theft. They have added walls, barbed wire, crashproof fences, and more cameras to keep watch on the system. The company has also formed joint task forces with local agencies and hired third-party security. Their mission is to safeguard customers' assets and maintain trust in every shipment.