CN to invest C$12 million in expansion of Prince George, B.C.

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C., Sept. 5, 2012 — CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE:CNI) announced today a C$12-million expansion of its Locomotive Reliability Centre (LRC) in this northern British Columbia centre.

Keith Creel, CN executive vice-president and chief operating officer, said: “The Prince George LRC is strategically located midway between Edmonton, Alta., and Prince Rupert, B.C., which are roughly 1,000 miles apart.

“The facility serviced locomotives for more than 9,000 CN trains that transited the city last year. We are at maximum capacity at the LRC, with three shifts per day, seven days a week, and we need to expand it to handle existing and forecast growth of intermodal, coal and other traffic in northern B.C.”

CN will increase floor space at the Prince George locomotive shop by 50 per cent to nearly 50,000 square feet, permitting the addition of four repair bays with pits to handle the forecast increase in locomotive inspections and repairs.

CN will also spend more than C$4 million this year to extend two key sidings north of Prince George on the line toward Chetwynd, B.C., to efficiently and safely accommodate 10,000-foot coal trains serving mines in northeastern region of the province.

CN has invested heavily in the Prince George area to handle increased freight volumes. Including the LRC project and siding extensions this year, CN will have spent more than  C$60 million since 2004 on capital projects in the city. Initiatives have included:

* The construction and expansion of a major transloading and intermodal terminal for the export forest products via the Port of Prince Rupert;
* Yard capacity expansion and upgrades;
* Mechanical installations to repair and service freight cars and,
* Environmental controls, including a fueling station upgrading and new storm water sewers.

In addition to capital spending in the Prince George area and, by year-end 2012, CN will have invested more than C$150 million since 2004 in longer sidings along the Edmonton-Prince Rupert corridor.

Creel added: “CN is a major economic player in the markets it serves, and we are investing proactively in our infrastructure to ensure the supply chains we are part of and the customers we serve have safe, efficient rail capacity to grow and compete effectively at home and abroad.”

CN – Canadian National Railway Company and its operating railway subsidiaries – spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information on CN, visit the company’s website at www.cn.ca.  

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information included in this news release constitutes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities laws. CN cautions that, by their nature, these forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  The Company cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results or performance of the Company or the rail industry to be materially different from the outlook or any future results or performance implied by such statements. Important factors that could affect the above forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the effects of general economic and business conditions, industry competition, inflation, currency and interest rate fluctuations, changes in fuel prices, legislative and/or regulatory developments, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, actions by regulators, various events which could disrupt operations, including natural events such as severe weather, droughts, floods and earthquakes, labor negotiations and disruptions, environmental claims, uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation, risks and liabilities arising from derailments, and other risks detailed from time to time in reports filed by CN with securities regulators in Canada and the United States. Reference should be made to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” in CN’s annual and interim reports, Annual Information Form and Form 40-F filed with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators, available on CN’s website, for a summary of major risks.

CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable Canadian securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related maters, or any other forward-looking statement.

Ryder Opens First Used Vehicle Sales Center in Vancouver, British Columbia

MIAMI, September 5, 2012 - Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R), a leader in commercial transportation and supply chain management solutions, today announced the opening of its new Ryder Vehicle Sales center, offering used trucks for sale in the Greater Vancouver Area.  The facility is the first Ryder Vehicle Sales location in British Columbia.

Located at 9616 188 Street in Surrey, British Columbia, the center is conveniently situated along the 57 Trans-Canada Highway and just down the street from Ryder’s full service maintenance facility on 190th street.

“The Surrey facility enables Ryder to better serve our valued BC customers and accommodate the increasing demand for quality used vehicles in the Greater Vancouver area,” said Michael Cagney, Director of Asset Management for Ryder.  “With this new location, we can conveniently provide businesses with affordable, professionally-maintained used vehicles to support their needs.”

Ryder’s used vehicle inventory includes commercial and heavy-duty vehicles including tractors, trailers, straight trucks, panel and cube vans, refrigerated trucks and stake trucks.  Each vehicle is Ryder Road Ready TM certified and comes with a 30-day warranty and complete vehicle maintenance history. Ryder is one of the largest retailers of used vehicles in North America, selling more than 19,000 vehicles a year from over 55 used vehicle sales centers across North America, including seven in Canada.
     
Ryder will be hosting an official grand opening event for local businesses at the new facility on September 25th, 2012.  Attendees will enjoy a barbeque, as well as participate in a raffle drawing, receive discounts on vehicles, and meet Ryder’s local Used Vehicle Sales Manager, Darryl Wood, as well as members of the Ryder management team.

To view Ryder’s complete used vehicle sales inventory, visit www.ryderusedtrucks.ca  or in the U.S., visit www.usedtrucks.ryder.com.  Alternatively, customers can reach Darryl Wood at the British Columbia location by calling 1 (800) USED-TRK or directly at (604) 881-4821.  Hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

About Ryder

Ryder is a FORTUNE 500® commercial transportation, logistics and supply chain management solutions company.  Ryder’s stock (NYSE:R) is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.  Inbound Logistics magazine has recognized Ryder as a top third party logistics provider and green supply chain partner.  Ryder has also been ranked two years in a row as one of the top 250 U.S. companies in the Newsweek Green Rankings.  In addition, Security Magazine has named Ryder one of the top companies for security practices in the transportation, logistics, supply chain, and warehousing sector.  Ryder is a proud member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, supporting national and local disaster preparedness and response efforts.

Old Dominion Opens New Parkersburg Service Center

PARKERSBURG, West Virginia (Sept. 4, 2012) – Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. today opened its new Parkersburg Service Center, allowing the company to keep up with continued growth in the region.

The new Parkersburg Service Center is located at 190 Elizabeth Pike in Mineral Wells, West Virginia. The two-acre facility will employ 12 people.

      The addition is part of a $90-120 million investment Old Dominion has committed to real estate purchases and expansion projects in 2012. The new Parkersburg Service Center is positioned directly off of Interstate 77.

“This new facility will allow Old Dominion to grow its operations in the Parkersburg area,” said Adam Osborne, the terminal’s manager. “The new and expanded facility will enable us to react faster to customers’ needs and meet the steady increase of customer demands in the area.”

      The Parkersburg Service Center’s coverage area includes seven West Virginia cities (Parkersburg, Clarksburg, Sistersville, New Milton, Harrisville, West Union and Ravenswood) and three eastern Ohio cities (Marietta, Watertown and Athens).

      About Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (NASDAQ: ODFL) is a leading, less-than-truckload (“LTL”), union-free motor carrier providing regional, inter-regional and national LTL service and value-added logistics services. In addition to its core LTL services, the Company offers its customers a broad range of logistics services including ground and air expedited transportation, supply chain consulting, transportation management, truckload brokerage, container delivery, warehousing and consumer household moving services. Through marketing and carrier relationships, the Company also offers door-to-door international freight services to and from all of North America, Central America, South America and the Far East. For more than 78 years, Old Dominion has been helping the world keep promises. In 2012, the company was named as one of America’s 100 Most Trustworthy Companies by Forbes magazine and ranked as the No. 1 National LTL carrier by Mastio & Company as part of the company’s 2011 Value and Loyalty Benchmarking Study.

Ryder and Fresh & Easy Receive LQ’s 2012 Best 3PL Sustainability Winner’s Award

 Ryder and Fresh & Easy Receive LQ’s 2012 Best 3PL Sustainability Winner’s Award

July 17, 2012 - Toronto – Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R), a leader in supply chain, warehousing and transportation management solutions, and its customer, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, a leading grocery retailer, have received the prestigious Logistics Quarterly (LQ) 2012 Third Party Logistics (3PL) Sustainability Award. This annual awards program recognizes third-party logistics providers that work closely with their customers to demonstrate leadership and innovation in sustainable supply chain practices.

Ryder and Fresh & Easy were recognized for implementing innovative, sustainable practices that have resulted in improved service, environmental performance, and cost effectiveness in Fresh & Easy’s supply chain operations.

Fresh & Easy currently operates 199 grocery stores in California, Arizona and Nevada and relies on a total fleet of 74 vehicles managed by Ryder to support grocery and perishable store deliveries from its Riverside, California distribution center. Services provided by Ryder include Temperature Controlled Dedicated Transportation, Inbound Freight Management, and Reverse Logistics.

The LQ 3PL Sustainability Award Evaluation Committee, comprised of leading executives and academics from the U.S. and Canada, recognized Ryder System, Inc., and Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, as the Best 2012 3PL Performer in Sustainability Winner, representing the finest of the four “Best 3PL Performers in Sustainability” finalists following the 3PL Finalist Firm Presentations on July 17th at LQ’s Symposium in Toronto, Canada. In addition to collaboration, LQ’s Evaluation Committee considered each 3PL finalist’s strategic vision in this area, as well as their performance in economic, environmental and societal areas of sustainability.

The members of LQ’s 3PL Sustainability Study and Awards (2012) Evaluation Committee included: Dave Closs, PhD, LQ Executive Editor, and Professor, Michigan State University; Bill Horrocks, Vice President, Supply Chain/Logistics at Rogers Communications Inc.; Cliff Lynch, C.F. Lynch & Associates; Loray Mosher, PhD., Assistant Director at the Supply Chain Management Research Center (SCMRC), Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas; Kate Vitasek, Founder, Supply Chain Visions and a faculty member at the University of Tennessee’s Center for Executive Education.

The four finalists were selected by LQ’s Executive Editors, Dave Closs, PhD, LQ Executive Editor, and Professor, Michigan State University and Thomas Goldsby, PhD, The Ohio State University, based on applications submitted earlier this year by 3PLs and their clients documenting their best practices together. This year, 30 leading North American 3PLs registered to participate in LQ’s 3PL Study and Awards Program.

LQ was honored to have the following finalists present at its July 17^th Symposium and share their insights and inspiring case studies in sustainability. A few of excerpts of their presentations have been included here as well:

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

• Steve Raetz, Director of Supply Chain Integration, C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

• Walter Kowal, CPA, Internal Audit Manager, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.

“Because of the work we did together John B. Sanfilippo & Son passed the Walmart audit, and this positioned them for future growth and retention of that business. It demonstrates how sustainability practices in these collaborative relationships can enhance the business. It is not only about the innovations in manufacturing and our relationship. It shows how sustainability practices cascade upstream to the suppliers and to the customers downstream. It illustrates how sustainability contributes to the brand equity and, ultimately, how your customers perceive you.” - Steve Raetz, Director of Supply Chain Integration, C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

“Because of our great relationship of innovation and challenging each other to make improvements - we have been able to show our customers, such as Walmart and Pepsico that we are innovative and sustainable in our business and constantly striving for continuous improvement.” - Walter Kowal, CPA, Internal Audit Manager, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.

GENCO ATC

Tadd Moreland, Senior Project Engineer, GENCO ATC

Lauren Spirnak, Senior Project Engineer, GENCO ATC

“GENCO ATC’s lean-to-green approach begins with our staff of lean trainers, and then identifying waste and finding sustainable solutions. In this case, we developed a technology solution that enhanced our performance for a retailer with some 1,100 stores, 10,000 products and an estimated 18,000 daily internet orders from their location in Georgia. Our case study reflects the fact that one of the key requests from our clients is for more reporting information. More customers want information to share with their stakeholders, and increasingly they’re turning to their providers to garner more of this information.” - Tadd Moreland, Senior Project Engineer, GENCO ATC

“Engineering and Operations worked together to create this new and innovative solution for this retail client; Three innovative apps for an iPod to provide data on picking, replenishing and put-away. The result is “iSmart”, which enables our supervisors to be instantaneously informed on the floor. This results in more data-supported decisions, eliminates paper and less timely paper reports, reduces costs associated with supervision and improves the overall velocity of work flow. Plus it reduces overtime for team mates, and ‘No fill rate’ on orders have been reduced due to the increased visibility. Today, supervisors as well as and team mates are happier.” - Lauren Spirnak, Senior Project Engineer, GENCO ATC

Ryder Supply Chain Solutions

Bethany Gentry, Supply Chain Engineer, Ryder Supply Chain Solutions

Randall P. Hudkins, Group Director, Ryder Supply Chain Solutions

Donald W. Showell, Sr. Director of Solutions Execution and Standards (Network Design and Transportation) for the Global Supply Chain Services Team, Ryder Supply Chain Solutions

Linda Wytovich, Logistics Manager, Fresh & Easy

“In one of our first meetings with Fresh & Easy focusing on predictive analysis, we were asked to share innovative ideas to help bring more efficiency to their operations. Our first recommendation was to have Fresh & Easy collaborate with another grocery retailer by sharing transportation. This involves literally putting competitors’ product on the same vehicles and in the same lanes. Fresh & Easy was very open to this idea. We were able to take 200,000 miles out of the lane with one truck and we shared in the savings with both companies.” - Donald W. Showell, Sr. Director of Solutions Execution and Standards (Network Design and Transportation) for the Global Supply Chain Services Team, Ryder Supply Chain Solutions

UPS Supply Chain Solutions

Alan P. Amling, Global Logistics and Distribution Marketing, UPS Supply Chain Solutions

Stephen Rodgers, Director Global Manufacturing Operations, March Networks

“There is not one solution because sustainability is not something that is
one and done. It must be part of the corporate culture. If sustainability
is simply a project, then it is going to fail. At UPS we look at
sustainability as encompassing social responsibilities, environmental
stewardship and economic prosperity. One of the things I enjoyed today is
the partnership shown in every one of the finalist presentations. That is
what it is all about. Leveraging resources to take carbon out of the
environment and to do it in an economical way. It needs to be part of your
DNA and culture. That’s how we all win.” - Alan P. Amling, Global
Logistics and Distribution Marketing, UPS Supply Chain Solutions

Tom Schmitt, Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Purolator, and recipient of LQ’s 2011 3PL Sustainability Award, was the moderator of the afternoon session dedicated to LQ’s 3PL Finalists on July 17th at the Toronto Board of Trade’s Country Club.

LQ’s team would also like to take this opportunity to express its appreciation for the support of C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc, which has made LQ’s annual 3PL Sustainability Study and Awards Program possible in 2012 and 2011, and share the following acknowledgement and vision statement by C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc:

We are pleased to support the 2012 LQ 3PL Sustainability Study. For C.H. Robinson Worldwide, sustainability is not a single initiative, but an overall approach to business that continually adds value, improves efficiencies, and invests in the long-term success of our customers, contract carriers, growers, employees and communities. As a leader in our industry, we believe it’s important to help drive innovations that reduce the freight logistics industry’s impact on the environment. We salute LQ for its commitment to highlighting the significant contributions our industry is making, and we are proud to help underwrite such an important effort.

About C.H. Robinson Worldwide

Founded in 1905, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., is a global provider of multimodal logistics services, fresh produce sourcing, and information services to 37,000 customers through a network of more than 230 offices and over 8,300 employees around the world. The company works with 53,000 transportation providers worldwide. C.H. Robinson is a Fortune 500 company and had annual revenues of $10.3 billion in 2011.

Through the company and its Foundation, C.H. Robinson and its employees contribute millions of dollars annually to a variety of organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Community Health Charities, American Red Cross, Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, and Global Impact. The company is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and has been publicly traded on the NASDAQ since 1997. For more information about C.H. Robinson, visit http://www.chrobinson.com.  

BNSF Expands Bakken Oil Transport Capacity to One Million Barrels per day

FORT WORTH, Texas, September 4, 2012 – BNSF Railway (BNSF) today announced that it has increased capacity in 2012 to enable the railroad to haul one million barrels per day out of the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. This increased capacity will allow the energy industry to continue the record expansion of oil production in the Williston Basin and to ship the new production to markets throughout the U.S. It will also benefit shippers of other commodities, including agricultural products.

      “Historically, oil and gas producers have used pipelines to transport crude from production to refineries and ultimately on to end users,” said John Lanigan, BNSF executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “Because this shale development growth came about so quickly, there has been a shortage of pipeline capacity to deliver production from new unconventional sources to coastal refiners. BNSF has responded quickly to enable producers to move crude to the most attractive markets and secure the best prices.”
 
      Today, through direct and interline service, BNSF’s network reaches all major coastal and inland markets, and it directly serves 30 percent of U.S. refineries in 14 states. BNSF currently has 1,000 miles of rail line in the Williston Basin area and serves eight originating terminals with two more scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012. BNSF connects to 16 of the top 19 oil producing counties in Central and Western North Dakota, and five of the six oil producing counties in Eastern Montana.

      “BNSF has been hauling Bakken crude out of the Williston Basin area for over five years. In that time, we have seen the volume increase nearly 7,000 percent, from 1.3 million barrels in 2008 to 88.9 million in 2012,” said Dave Garin, BNSF group vice president, Industrial Products. “We see this trend continuing and we are committed to serving this growing market now and in the future.”
     
     BNSF has been able to achieve this increase in capacity due to increased investment, maintenance and hiring efforts.

      BNSF is investing $197 million in 2012 on projects in North Dakota and Montana. Some of those projects include 2,188 miles of track surfacing, two new inspection tracks, raising track at Devil’s Lake,  replacement of 121 miles of rail and about 332,000 rail ties, as well as signal upgrades and equipment acquisitions.

      Since 2011, BNSF has hired more than 560 new employees to fill existing and newly created positions in North Dakota and Montana. These employees include crews to help deliver the inbound freight that supports drilling efforts and the outbound crude to destination markets throughout the U.S.

      In addition to hiring new employees in the field, BNSF has also formed a dedicated Unit Energy Desk that works directly with our customers to help coordinate and plan unit train movements to and from the Williston Basin. With an expanded team, the Unit Energy Desk provides customers a single-source point of contact for their rail operations planning needs.
 
      BNSF has also employed numerous efficiency enhancements to increase capacity on routes into and out of the Williston Basin. These include working with our customers to increase train sizes from 100 to 104 tank cars and in some cases up to 118 tank cars, adding signalization and sidings along key routes, and identifying and developing the most efficient routes.

About BNSF
      BNSF Railway is one of North America’s leading freight transportation companies operating on 32,000 route miles of track in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain, industrial goods and low-sulfur coal that help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. And we are working continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve.

CN Acquires New Freight Cars and Containers in 2012

MONTREAL, Sept. 4, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today that it is acquiring more than 2,200 new freight cars in 2012, as well as 1,300 new containers, to support traffic growth and improve customer service.

Jean-Jacques Ruest, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer, said: "CN is acquiring new freight cars and containers for a range of markets, including forest products, metals, minerals, coal, iron ore, steel, consumer goods, finished vehicles, and grain. These fleet additions will help us grow in line with our customers' demands and ensure CN has the right mix of modern, productive assets."

CN's largest rolling stock addition in 2012 is the acquisition of 600 premium 60-foot, double-door box cars for forest products, and metals traffic. These higher payload cars help improve customer loading efficiency.

CN's other main 2012 fleet additions are:

• 1,300 containers for grocery and consumer goods.
• 558 high-capacity modern covered hoppers for grain exports.
• 317 multi-level cars for finished vehicles deliveries to major cities.
• 300 gondolas for coal exports.
• 232 new ore cars for pelletized iron ore produced in Minnesota to supply steel mills in the United States.
• 200 multi-purpose box cars for the North American freight car pool.
Ruest said: "CN's rolling stock acquisition strategy is responding to evolving market conditions and is intended to ensure reliable, predictable supply chains for our customers."

CN - Canadian National Railway Company and its operating railway subsidiaries - spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain information included in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities laws. CN cautions that, by their nature, these forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  The Company cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results or performance of the Company or the rail industry to be materially different from the outlook or any future results or performance implied by such statements. Important factors that could affect the above forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the effects of general economic and business conditions, industry competition, inflation, currency and interest rate fluctuations, changes in fuel prices, legislative and/or regulatory developments, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, actions by regulators, various events which could disrupt operations, including natural events such as severe weather, droughts, floods and earthquakes, labor negotiations and disruptions, environmental claims, uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation, risks and liabilities arising from derailments, and other risks detailed from time to time in reports filed by CN with securities regulators in Canada and the United States. Reference should be made to "Management's Discussion and Analysis" in CN's annual and interim reports, Annual Information Form and Form 40-F filed with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators, available on CN's website, for a summary of major risks.??CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable Canadian securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement.

Axsun Opens Two New U.S. Offices

Sept 4, 2012 - Montreal - Axsun is pleased to announce the opening of two new offices based in the United States; located in Anaheim, California and the second in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Establishing these two new offices strengthens Axsun’s foot hold in the United States as the firm continues its expansion throughout North America.

With its investment in SAP technology and its expertise in the transportation industry, Axsun continues to provide a comprehensive portfolio of transportation solutions, including Intermodal, Trucking, Ocean, Air, and Warehousing services throughout North America.