J.B. Hunt Transport Services, BNSF Railway, and GMXT, the largest rail provider in Mexico, launched a new intermodal offering for Mexico businesses with service-sensitive freight delivery.

The new offering, called Quantum de México, a J.B. Hunt, BNSF and GMXT service, follows its U.S. counterpart launched by J.B. Hunt and BNSF in November 2023. 

Quantum provides the consistency, agility and speed needed to transport sensitive highway freight using rail, meeting businesses’ “just in time” freight needs. The service is optimized for efficiency, offering a 95+% on-time delivery rate that’s up to one day faster than traditional intermodal service.

The new service uses the latest advancements in tracking and monitoring systems, providing real-time visibility and control over shipments, minimizing delays and optimizing performance. 

Designated J.B. Hunt, BNSF and GMXT support teams will provide 24x7 oversight, delivering consistent and reliable transit times including features like priority drayage as well as railcar loading and unloading.

Quantum de México will operate on key routes connecting major cities and industrial hubs in both countries. Some of the primary markets served include:

• US: Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, the US West Coast, and US eastern destinations

• Mexico: Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey

To support customer needs and enable growth in Mexico, J.B. Hunt has opened a new office in Queretaro, Mexico.

The Benefits of Converting Over-The-Road Truck Freight to Intermodal

“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 we’re announcing today 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.”

In addition, intermodal conversion is the most widely available ground transportation solution for cutting carbon emissions, reducing a shipment’s carbon footprint by an average of 65% compared to OTR truck transportation, according to J.B. Hunt.

The Importance of Mexico's Exports to the United States

As more businesses have been using Mexico to solve supply chain challenges, the country has grown to be one of the top 10 exporters in the world, with more than two-thirds of those exports destined for the U.S.

Top export industries include automotive, manufacturing, agricultural, electronics, and other service-sensitive freight areas.

Traditional over-the-road highway transport moves nearly 70% of freight across the Mexico/U.S. border.

In 2024, J.B. Hunt, BNSF and GMXT launched intermodal service to and from Mexico through the Eagle Pass Gateway. Together, the three companies provide one of the most comprehensive transportation networks reaching locations throughout North America:

J.B. Hunt owns and operates the largest intermodal fleet in North America, while BNSF operates the largest intermodal rail network in North America, according to the announcement, and GMXT is the largest rail provider in Mexico.

The collaboration looks to capitalize on the untapped potential of intermodal service for businesses moving freight in and out of Mexico, including converting OTR highway freight to rail intermodal and optimizing container efficiency.