BNSF News

TSS Xpress Finishes Field Transportation Rollout

2010-03-15

TSS Xpress is officially rolled out on the BNSF system.

Front-line supervisors at a total of 162 terminals throughout the system have access to TSS Xpress, said Janet Galassi, director, Technology Services. Measured usage of TSS Xpress indicates the application is successfully being used.

"We're hovering at 92 to 93 percent usage," Galassi said. "Measured success is usually targeted for 80 percent or higher."

TSS Xpress allows front-line supervisors to access information they need to execute their daily responsibilities using a Web-browser front-end rather than the TSS mainframe "green screen." The more user-friendly interface helps Transportation front-line supervisors, especially, access data faster and more easily. The prototype was developed in 2006; the initial tools were built in 2007, and they were piloted in several locations. The rollout to large terminals began in 2008 and was completed at all of the smaller terminals in late 2009.

"We realized we had a large percentage of front-line supervisors who were new to the railroad and were not comfortable navigating the 'green screen'," Galassi said. "We had great data, but it just wasn't easy to find."

Galassi credited terminal management's support for TSS Xpress' success. "Their support was a key factor in our implementation," Galassi said. "When terminal management was actively involved, we found greater interest."

TSS Xpress' usage went beyond the original scope when it also became a useful tool for terminals implementing Service Excellence practices.

"The Service Excellence initiative is aimed at extracting the best way of coordinating, communicating and managing our terminals," said Brandon Archambeau, superintendent, Corridor Operations I. "With TSS Xpress, we have been able to use one common platform that has improved visibility and reduced communication of handoffs cross-functionally within our terminals."

What's next for TSS Xpress?

Galassi said work began in October 2009 to implement TSS Xpress for chief dispatchers and managers of corridor operations (MCOs) in the Network Operations Center. "That in itself is a big accomplishment," Galassi said.

The next step will be to focus on providing TSS Xpress to chief dispatchers and MCOs in regional operations centers in Spring, Texas; Kansas City, Kan.; and San Bernardino, Calif., this year.

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