Representatives from the Ainsworth Engineered-100 Mile House OSB plant recently called for some answers from Canadian National Railways (CN) representatives to address some problems it has with rail car supply.
This discussion took place at a Rotary Club of 100 Mile House function held for the railway’s local stakeholders, when area team leader (shipping) Dave Neraasen spoke for Ainsworth, backed up by plant manager John Burns.
Neraasen said ongoing peaks and valleys in the supply of rail cars has hit the local mill hard.
Ainsworth has been proactively booking trucks to combat these rail car shortages, but he explained that incurs a much higher material transportation cost, and leaves a bigger carbon footprint.
“With forestry coming on line again and a lot of mills starting to move, what’s the plan to get away from these highs and lows? How are you guys going to provide us with that steady flow?”
CN regional manager of public affairs Emily Hamer said the railway is aware of the problem.
“This winter has been particularly rough, and this is one of the concerns with car shortages … raised by some companies throughout the region. And, we are working very closely with those [customers].”
She added CN management has also been working with its area account managers and the car management team on the issue.
Neraasen noted that brought up another concern, since his close relationship with his CN customer service representative (CSR) in Prince George dissolved when that service was centralized.
“We are anticipating issues because that’s the way it has gone. And, the issue with the CSR is we speak to somebody different every day.”
He explained the next problem occurs when car shortages or holidays cause material backups.
Ainsworth’s requests for flexibility from CN, particularly for “a couple of extra hours” leeway to load cars, don’t pan out anymore.
“So, we don’t have a yard here anymore, so our relationship with a local yard is gone, our relationship with a somewhat-localized CSR is gone, and its feels like we’re being kind of pushed away a little bit. And, that is a scary thought when our business depends on you guys.”
CN assistant superintendent Mike Peterson, who recently took over that senior role, said he was only just made aware of the issue.
“This is something that is totally foreign [to me], so I’d like to meet with you. I’d like to come and sit down and I’d like to go through your entire operation and then understand what it is you need.
“I need to know when you need us to be there, what are the peak times, and we will plan our service around that.”
Peterson noted the rail service currently operates under a sufficient schedule to meet contract obligations between the two companies.
“Based on what we have in our service agreement with Ainsworth, my understanding is the new job that comes down is a 10-hour day, so the level that he has to be here in this yard is the same. We try to schedule him out in Williams Lake, so he is arriving within the same window within the two hours that is part of our agreement.”
Neraasen said things have otherwise improved recently, but Ainsworth remains concerned when things like a holiday weekend, such as this past Christmas, leave material piled up in the yard – contrary to the company’s safety policy for storing it indoors.
“We cannot put our workers at risk; we do not want them driving outside in the snow, so it’s just getting that consistency through.”
Neraasen said he understands it is somewhat out of the local CN employees hands, as that train needs to get loaded in Williams Lake for the return trip south.
“We’ve seen a more consistent flow, and I don’t know how that correlates, but we know we can start anticipating when we are going to have a shortage. And, that’s a sad day, when we know we’re not going to get what we were guaranteed.”
Peterson reiterated the need to get together again, after the Rotary meeting, to hash out the details of the issues and potential solutions.
“We can sit down, we can discuss it, and if we have to change something, we certainly will.”
