Quantum de México to carry on tradition of intermodal excellence, innovation

By SUSAN GREEN 
Staff Writer
 
What started with a handshake some 35 years ago between a railroad and a trucking company is now a global intermodal model. That’s a considerable leap – as in quantum – with today’s international version of that initial domestic concept known as Quantum de México. 

It began in 1989, when a deal was struck between leaders of a BNSF predecessor and J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. The railroad and trucking firm saw the potential of intermodal transport for which the two modes combine the best of their respective services: trains taking the long-haul and trucks the shorter.  

The growth was explosive. Fast forward to 2023, when J.B. Hunt, owner and operator of the largest intermodal fleet in North America, and BNSF, which operates the largest rail intermodal network on the continent, announced Quantum.

Quantum is a groundbreaking domestic service offering up to 95 percent on-time or better delivery, about a day faster than traditional intermodal service. What differentiates Quantum from other offerings is that each operating plan is tailored to the customer, with a team from BNSF and J.B. Hunt housed together in Fort Worth, Texas, at BNSF headquarters, to plan and execute consistently for the most service-sensitive freight. When there are service exceptions, they work behind the scenes on recovery. 

The concept went cross border on May 30, 2025, when BNSF, J.B. Hunt and Grupo Mexico Transportes (GMXT), the largest rail provider in Mexico, announced the launch of the new service. Quantum de México will serve businesses in Mexico with time-sensitive freight delivery, meeting their “just in time” freight needs. 

This is not the first time the three providers have collaborated. In 2024, intermodal service to and from Mexico through Eagle Pass, Texas, was introduced as the country has grown to be one of the Top 10 exporters in the world. 

“We have demonstrated that rail and its intermodal services are key allies to industries not only in Mexico but across North America, through a strategic alliance with J.B. Hunt and BNSF,” said Luis Hernández, vice president intermodal at GMXT. “The progress in service quality that we offer allows us to continue innovating while maintaining efficiency and reliability, with new services like Quantum de México.” 

What’s also evolved since that 1989 handshake is technology. Quantum de México, like its U.S. counterpart, will utilize the latest advancements in tracking and monitoring systems, providing real-time visibility and control over shipments, minimizing delays and optimizing performance. The support team will also now include GMXT. 

“Quantum de México represents a significant milestone in our commitment to innovation and excellence in logistics,” said Jon Gabriel, BNSF’s group vice president of consumer products. “Expanding our reach from coast to coast allows us to harness our collective strengths and broaden our ability to deliver an unparalleled experience to our customers.”

Quantum de México will run on key routes connecting major cities and industrial hubs in both countries. Primary markets served include Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, the U.S. West Coast and eastern destinations, as well as Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico. 

Because nearly 70 percent of freight transported across the Mexico-U.S. border is moved by traditional over-the-road (truck) transport, leaders of the new service see significant potential. 

“Mode conversion is one of the leading opportunities businesses can leverage in today’s economic environment to drive efficiency and cost savings,” said Spencer Frazier, executive vice president of sales and marketing at J.B. Hunt. “The collaboration brings the full suite of our industry-leading intermodal service and its unmatched service excellence, scale and capacity to Mexico, building on the innovative success of a 35-year relationship.” 

That success – and the collective experience of the three companies now providing Quantum de México service -- promise an exciting next chapter.