CPKC said this week its strategic collaboration with Americold will deliver temperature-controlled rail service from Kansas City to Mexico, delivering cross-border logistics for perishable goods.
The two companies said the collaboration would provide customers with direct access to an integrated, end-to-end cold chain network they said is designed for reliability, efficiency and compliance. The new service would provide optimal conditions for perishable commodities throughout every stage of transit.
“Our collaboration with Americold exemplifies how strategic relationships can redefine cross-border supply chains,” Jordan Kajfasz, CPKC VP of sales and marketing intermodal, said. “By combining CPKC’s seamless, single-line rail network with Americold’s world-class temperature-controlled facilities, we’re setting a new standard for cold chain efficiency in North America. Together, we’re delivering speed, reliability, and peace of mind to our customers across the continent.”
The companies said Americold’s import-export hub in Kansas City, co-located with CPKC’s intermodal terminal would serve as a consolidation and launch point, where temperature control and rigorous handling standards can safeguard goods within precises temperature ranges.
Another key feature of the collaboration, officials said, is onsite USDA and SENASICA (Mexico’s National Service of Health, Food Safety and Quality) inspection services, allowing importers and exporters to complete mandated inspections and certifications in Kansas City, bypassing costly bottlenecks at the U.S.-Mexico border.
“This partnership is strengthening the most important part of the food supply chain — reliability for our customers,” Bryan Verbarendse, president of Americas at Americold, said. “By combining Americold’s temperature-controlled expertise with CPKC’s single line rail network, we’re creating a faster, more predictable, and more resilient cross border solution. It’s a smarter way to move food, and a meaningful step toward building a North American cold chain that delivers for our customers every day.”
CPKC’s direct, nonstop service also leverages seamless rail connections and reduces overall handling, further diminishing chances of spoilage, temperature excursions, or theft.