Watco Begins Operations at Great Plains

Watco kicked off its 40th year in business with some new business. On January 1, Watco assumed rail operations at Great Plains Industrial Park near Parsons, Kansas. Several Watco teams will collaborate with park management to grow traffic and bring new business into the 7,000-acre secure facility.

Watco earned the contract because of its existing relationships, a proven track record of safe, customer-focused service, and the full spectrum of transportation offerings. The park’s Class I rail service provider is Union Pacific (UP), which Watco works with across the country. In addition to the rail service it provides inside the park, Watco is providing additional expertise through its Terminal & Ports and Logistics services.

“UP and Great PIains wanted to partner with a growth player. We got several Watco teams involved to make a comprehensive bid,” said Logistics Commercial Sales Manager Michael Clinton. “They were interested in our capabilities to market their facility in all areas, give them real-time inventory control, and offer the same tools and service flexibility we offer all our customers.”

The new location doesn’t have any dedicated, full-time team members yet. When railcars need to be spotted or switched, conductors and engineers from the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad’s nearby depots will perform those duties. It’s a similar situation for transloading, warehousing, and outdoor material storage.

Pittsburg Transload Terminal team members will provide those services as needed. Logistics is the customers’ connection to the park. They’ll coordinate trucking and draying to and from other hubs, as well as seek new customers and market Great Plains’ capabilities.

“Everybody’s going to have a hand in it,” said Pittsburg Terminal Manager Chris Senecaut. “It’s a real opportunity for us to learn about each other and how to work together. Hopefully, it will help us grow Great Plains, and use what we learn to grow elsewhere, too.”

For now, Watco’s Logistics and Sales teams are the most active. They’re working with the park to attract new customers and spur development within the park by highlighting existing infrastructure and the added capabilities of our team. One recent incentive for potential customers is the creation of a foreign trade zone (FTZ). Thirty-eight of the facility’s warehouses received approval for the designation, allowing tenants to save on tariffs and taxes on international goods.

“We’re working alongside sales to find customers and market the park,” said Clinton. “The FTZ will be a big selling point. Other FTZs in the region are still facing congestion issues, so it’s likely we’ll get some referrals, too. We’re looking forward to seeing the work we’ve put in to start bringing in customers.”

The team’s efforts are already yielding dividends. There are commitments or conversations with customers to begin handling ammonia, lumber, solar panels, wind turbines, carbon dioxide, lithium batteries for electric vehicles, and more.

“We wanted a partner that could help us grow. We’re excited about partnering with Watco,” said Great Plains Director Brad Reams. “They’ll not only provide service to our customers within the park, but help us attract new ones and help manage their supply chains across the globe. If there’s an issue or challenge, they’ll find a way to make it work for everyone.”