Omaha-based UP (NYSE: UNP<\/a>) has grown its share of Maersk volume there from single digits to about 59%, RailState said.<\/p>\n \u201cShifts like this are almost invisible from the outside,\u201d according to a blog post by marketing chief Daniel Devoe of RailState, which extrapolates data from a sweeping network of cameras aimed at rail lines. \u201cRailroads and shippers keep them private, and the volumes don\u2019t surface in quarterly reports until months later, if ever. By reading the ID on every container that passes a sensor, RailState tracked this shift as it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n Maersk currently has contracts with both UP and BNSF (NYSE: BRK-B<\/a>). The shift also comes as UP extended a $300 peak season surcharge on intermodal traffic moving out of Southern California.<\/p>\n RailState in a recent report found that Union Pacific volume from Southern California to Chicago had been rising in recent weeks.<\/p>\n Approximately 1,000 TEUs of Maersk\u2019s weekly Southern California outbound volume have shifted to Union Pacific, which now handles 77% of Maersk\u2019s volume in that region. These shipments are primarily routed via UP\u2019s Long Beach-to-Chicago service, reaching the Global 4 terminal near Joliet, Illinois, and the Long Beach-to-Dallas corridor, industry observers say.<\/p>\n \u201cA change like this is hard to see from the outside. The volumes may turn up later in a quarterly report, but that can take months, and many shifts are never announced at all,\u201d said Devoe.<\/p>\n Throughout the tracking period, Maersk transported 100,559 TEUs east along this corridor, with 90% previously handled by BNSF. However, after UP maintained only a single-digit share through mid-May, the volume began to shift rapidly. By the week of June 1, UP\u2019s share surpassed 50% for the first time, climbing to approximately 76% by the week of June 8. Since the transition started in late May, UP has accounted for roughly 59% of the total volume.<\/p>\n \u201cAs an integrated logistics provider, Maersk continuously balances inland capacity across our rail partners to ensure reliable service for customers, particularly heading into peak season,\u201d Maersk said in an email to FreightWaves. \u201cWe don\u2019t discuss the commercial terms of our rail relationships, but our priority is delivering consistent transit and capacity for our BCO customers across all U.S. inland corridors. Where routing adjustments affect specific customers, we work directly with them to manage the operational details.\u201d<\/p>\n The shift comes just as the peak shipping season moves into high gear, and UP presses its case for a transcontinental merger with Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC<\/a>). BNSF has been an outspoken critic of the merger. At the same time, UP announced that it was extending its $300 peak season surcharge for customers in its Mutually Committed Program (MCP) for shipments over baseload in LA and California\u2019s Inland Empire, effective July 5.<\/p>\n \u201cDemand is strong, and we are well-positioned to support this growth as we enter peak season\u201d a UP spokesperson told FreightWaves. \u201cTo keep containers moving where customers need them, we\u2019re actively unstacking and repositioning containers while adding train capacity to support shipper needs. This surcharge reflects the value of our capacity and service in current market conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n The spokesperson added that the railroad is experiencing increases across carriers, consistent with an early peak season. The carrier would not comment on Maersk as it is the quiet period prior to earnings release.\u00a0<\/p>\n FreightWaves also reached out to BNSF for comment.<\/p>\n This article was updated June 29 to add tatements from Maersk and UP. <\/p>\n Subscribe to\u00a0FreightWaves\u2019 Rail e-newsletter<\/a>\u00a0and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox.<\/p>\n Read more articles by Stuart Chirls\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n Read more:<\/p>\n California: First ILWU strike against sugar giant in decades<\/a><\/p>\n Oregon port OKs federal rail grant agreement for multimodal project<\/a><\/p>\n Norfolk Southern CEO says railroad must focus on today and tomorrow<\/a><\/p>\n Rail, ocean access backs new Americold cold chain facility at eastern Canada port<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/railstate-which-union-pacific-route-1-1200x602.webp\")
RailState chart shows all of the new UP volume is moving over the Sunset Route in green, and that traffic on its parallel Los Angeles & Salt Lake route has stayed light throughout.\u00a0<\/p>\n