Averitt reportedly in intermodal discussions with BN, CSX

Less-than-truckload carrier Averitt Express Inc. is in discussions with railroads Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and CSX Corp. to tender more intermodal freight to the two railroads, according to an industry source.

The source, who asked not to be identified, said at the recent American Trucking Associations annual meeting in Las Vegas that BNSF "has put a push" on Averitt, while CSX "also is opening the dialogue" with Averitt.

Brad Brown, marketing and communications director for the Cookeville, Tenn.-based Averitt, said only that the company "is working to establish strategic relationships with the railroads to deliver world-class intermodal options for our customers." A BNSF spokesman declined comment. CSX was unavailable for comment.

Speculation over discussions between Averitt and the two railroads come amid published reports that truckload carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services is in the advanced stages of discussions with Norfolk Southern Railway to help Hunt expand its intermodal coverage in the eastern half of the United States.

*An earlier version of this story stated that JB Hunt was in talks with CSX. JB Hunt was in talks with Norfolk Southern Railway.