1,000 new jobs could be created through a new intermodal freight shipping project.
Imperial County, Calififornia was ranked as having the nation’s highest unemployment rate of 30.2 percent at the end of 2009. This county, so hard-hit by the recession, has finally received a bit of good news: 1,000 new jobs could be created through a new intermodal freight shipping project.
TBM Intermodal recently created an alliance with freight railroads to help expand an inland intermodal shipping port in Calexico and deliver goods to Mexico. Jose Villarreal, founder of TBM Carriers, said the idea was born when he realized that the trip to Texas added up to 500 extra miles to shipments from the western states.
“I wanted to find a safe way for companies to move their products destined for Mexico into the rail system as quickly as possible, and I realized Calexico has great potential to become a major gateway into Mexico,” he said. “And, this gives us a chance to create California jobs where they are needed most…in the Imperial Valley.”
Calexico’s strategic location is seen by many as the prime link between the interior of Mexico and the major markets along the U.S. West Coast. This large city is served by top quality rail lines installed by Union Pacific and Mexico’s leading rail company, Ferromex. Along with support from Grupo Infra, one of Mexico’s leading transportation companies, TBM intends to move thousands of rail shipments through this port to Mexico. Adding to the 500 direct jobs, will be an estimated 500 indirect jobs created in industries that will grow to support the new port, including warehouse workers, custom brokers, clerical workers, and forklift drivers. Rail shipping is considered much safer and more economical than driving trucks individually to Mexican destinations.
“Once companies realize the greater efficiency of using this new West Coast Gateway, we expect to see a network of distribution centers for large manufacturers grow in the immediate area to support the operation; just as they have in other major international ports,” Villarreal said.
Looking ahead to the future, the creation of even more jobs is a tantalizing possibility. Calexico’s position as a gateway to Mexico, combined with its freight rail lines, gives it a competitive advantage and a toehold for expansion as trade with Mexico increases in years to come.