CSX Offers Wireless Communications to Help Owner-Operators
he intermodal unit of freight railroad CSX Transportation said June 29 it spent $395,000 to launch a new wireless data-and-voice communication system that should allow its 400 owner-operators to reduce their costs by lessening downtime, lowering cellphone bills and enabling them to find additional loads to haul.
CSX Intermodal said it chose Research in Motion’s Blackberry personal digital assistants that operate with Air2Web message-sending software for use by its independent truck drivers who transport containerized freight to and from the railroad’s facilities.
The CSXI network handles about 500 dedicated trains per week among its 33 terminals.