Express carriers, railways issue statements on delays

In the aftermath of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., many express carriers, railroad systems and trucking companies suspended service to New York and Washington. It is still unclear when service will return to normal levels, with companies unwilling to commit to on-time service as they took extra safety precautions.

-Eagle Global Logistics says it has diverted freight to what can move on the ground, except for Washington, New York and Newark, where there is no access, said James R. Crane, chairman and chief executive officer of the Houston-based company. Eagle is also only accepting packages from known shippers. The company added that the U.S. Department of Defense has put Eagle on notice that it should be prepared to give up half of its planes to move troops or military cargo if necessary.

– Union Pacific Railroad, based in Omaha, Nebraska, increased security along its main lines and at bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure.

-Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway slowed its freight trains to 60 mph on tracks equipped with automatic block signals and to 30 mph in other territories.

-Amtrak continued to operate with average delays of one to two hours, said a company spokesman.

-UPS said that while some delays were being experienced the UPS network was continuing to operate as normal. Deliveries and pick-ups are occurring, and ground and air packages are being accepted and moved as expeditiously as possible using UPS’s extensive, integrated transportation network. Service has been restored to Washington, D.C., but deliveries will continue to be limited throughout most of Manhattan in New York City. The UPS air operation was closed overnight. The company is prepared to resume operations once the nation’s air traffic control system is reactivated and its airplanes allowed to fly.

-Memphis, Tennessee-based FedEx Corporation made as many pickups and deliveries as possible Tuesday, but a spokesperson said it was likely that many shipments would be delayed a minimum of 24 to 48 hours while the company worked to secure additional trucking capacity. Fed-Ex’s fleet to and from the United States was temporarily suspended, but intra-regional operations in Asia, Europe and Latin America were operating, said FedEx officials.

-FedEx Canada reported that it is experiencing a nationwide service disruption. The company said their first priority is the safety of employees throughout North America and that they will make every reasonable effort to deliver packages as quickly as practical under these difficult circumstances. Pick ups within Canada will continue as normal wherever possible, however, the acceptance of hazardous materials or perishable goods is temporarily suspended until further notice.