At CN, we are committed to efficiency, safety, and good corporate citizenship. To ensure efficiencies across our network, we continually evaluate our infrastructure and operations and seek opportunities that will benefit our customers, employees, supply chain partners and the community at large.

The Smart Terminal transformation includes multiple streams of work that are focused on achieving the objectives of increasing capacity, customer service and productivity. Among the changes are:

• New naming convention
• New standardized aisle width
• New storage standards
• New yard signs

In July 2021, yard changes such as updating container location naming convention, storage standards and yard signs were rolled out.

In October 2021, we implemented our new terminal operating system, providing carters more detailed container location information on their j-slips.

Key changes in the naming convention are as follows:

• Aisles are numbered in multiples of 1 starting with aisle 2 closest to track C302
• Container piles are broken up into lettered zones starting with letter A at far east side

• Aisles corresponding to the tracks (2 and 5) have a minimum width of 56’
• Middle aisles (3 and 4) have a minimum operating width of 68’

Each container follows the new naming convention in ‘Aisle Zone’ format (e.g. 2A or X2A). The nomenclature addresses our need for added granularity and enables carters to conveniently locate containers in the yard.

For grounded storage in stacks:

• Aisles: Identifies the aisles (e.g. 2)
• Zone: Identifies the zone (e.g. A)

For grounded storage in heaps:

• Aisles: Identifies the aisles (e.g. X2)
• Zone: Identifies the zone (e.g. A)

Aisles are the roads adjacent to the train tracks or in between storage locations.

Aisles are numbered, and include directional signs that will direct vehicles to tracks and aisles.

We have installed the following yard signs to help our customers navigate through the Malport Intermodal Terminal:

 Watch the Intermodal Terminal Safety Procedures video