JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) has been awarded the Rail Carrier of the Year Award by chemical customer, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Each year the company honors the carrier that shows the most improvement in shipping performance, according to a railroad press release.

The award is part of the yearly Vendor Challenge Program that Air Products and Chemicals conducts for its rail carriers based on its fiscal year, October-September. Several key shipping lanes are selected for each carrier and are monitored by performance versus schedule. Air Products and Chemicals tracks on-time performance versus schedule and goals are set using the prior year's performance as the baseline. For the new year, a goal is then set as a 10 percent improvement versus the baseline. The Rail Carrier of the Year Award is given to the railroad showing the largest improvement versus the prior year. In 2001, CSXT achieved an error-free rating of 90.73 percent. CSXT improved from a ranking of fourth out of six carriers, to first, in one year.

“We are honored at CSXT to receive the Rail Carrier of the Year Award from Air Products and Chemicals,” said Mike Ryan, vice president-core sales. “We feel this award is special because it reflects the commitment we are making to our customers to improve our service levels along with a total commitment to safety. This award signifies that our hard work is paying off. Our improved service is also equating to significant cost savings and efficiencies for our customers.”

Air Products and Chemicals Inc. is the world's only combined gas and chemical company. The company employs 18,000 people and has operations in 30 countries and is headquartered in Allentown, Pa. CSXT shipped 5,008 carloads for Air Products and Chemicals in 2001.

CSXT and its 35,000 employees provide rail transportation and distribution services over a 23,000 route-mile network in 23 states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces. CSXT is a business unit of CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX - news), headquartered in Richmond, Va.