TERRAIN FOR THE TENACIOUS
The company offers Keep From Freezing (KFF) options, usually from late September to April, for products that would be compromised or damaged if they freeze in transit. Johnson is enthusiastic about Alaska and Span Alaska’s place in it. “Alaskans live here because they love the natural beauty, the wilderness steps from their door, access to fishing, hunting, and hiking, and the pristine environment,” he says. “Whether they are in metro cities or a remote bush village, they need reliable availability of food, clothing, and everything else for everyday life. Because of the commitment and service of Span Alaska and other logistics providers, Alaskans can enjoy the same access to goods and services that those in the Lower 48 have.” Span Alaska continues to invest in technology and provides instant tracking and delivery confirmations. “Shipment visibility is vital for customers, especially as their products can be shipped via several modes—ocean, road, rail, and air,” he adds. Span Alaska offers delivery throughout Alaska, from metro Anchorage to the North Slope to remote villages in the bush. Customized solutions are available for the commercial and industrial sectors, including oil and gas, construction, food and beverage, and retail/tourism.
Alaska Railroad provides critical freight service, bringing freight from the lower 48 states through its gateway of Seattle, Washington, and into the port of Whittier, Alaska.
for its passenger service, Alaska Railroad freight is the larger of the railroad’s two business segments. “The Alaska Rail Marine Barge, operated under a long-term contract to the Alaska Railroad, connects the lower 48 states to Alaska via a port operation just a stone’s throw from downtown Seattle on Harbor Island,” Wade says. “There, rail carloads that originated deep in Texas and Mexico move seamlessly without transloading onto a rail barge for the seven-day trip to Whittier, a few miles from Anchorage. This is the most cost-effective way to move container and full railcars to and from Alaska.”
us to be prepared, well-planned, and extremely resourceful.” A common misconception is that the Alaska Railroad is connected to the lower 48 states via a railroad in Canada. “While there have been several big resource projects that have looked at building a connection between the Alaska Railroad and the Canadian National Railway, none has taken the process beyond the planning phase,” he says. “The barge connection between Harbor Island, Washington, and Whittier, Alaska, continues to be the only method to get railcars to south central Alaska from the lower 48.” Unless delayed by weather or other circumstances, the barge sails weekly on Wednesday and arrives in Whitter one week later. Each barge can carry 40-50 railcars. Due to current demand, the Alaska Railroad has contracted an extra sailing every Friday in addition to the weekly scheduled sailings. The future of the Alaska Railroad promises to be as rewarding as its past. “We just completed our centennial year in 2023,” Wade says. “The first 100 years were both challenging and exciting. The next 100 years will bring so many more opportunities for us. Alaska is rich in culture and resources but has limited
MAKING TRACKS Contributing mightily to the
transportation and logistic solutions of Alaska is the Alaska Railroad, which provides passenger service to most of the population with routes traveling some 500 miles between Seward, Anchorage, and Fairbanks. The railroad also provides critical freight service, bringing freight from the lower 48 states through its gateway of Seattle, Washington, and into the port of Whittier, Alaska. “We operate two distinctive services to meet the needs of the people and business in Alaska—rail freight and passenger service,” explains Dale Wade, the railroad’s vice president, marketing and customer services. While best known
MAINTAINING A CRITICAL ENERGY LINK The railroad is mindful of its
responsibility to the critical chain of the energy and mining industries as well as to consumers in the expansive commerce center of Alaska, says Wade. While the challenges presented by the state’s terrain are numerous—including extreme cold, flooding, rockslides, and avalanches—Wade says there are no obstacles the railroad cannot overcome. “Because we are remote, we don’t rely on third-party services that are available to railroads in the lower 48 states,” he explains. “If it happens, we handle it. This requires
36 Inbound Logistics • April 2024
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