OMAHA -- Union Pacific Railroad has earned the 2001 General Motors Mark of Excellence Award based on outstanding service performance and use of technology, the railroad reported in a press release.

“We have built the best automotive distribution network in North America,” said Rob Knight, Union Pacific's vice president and general manager - Automotive. “It is gratifying to our employees to be recognized by General Motors for the hard work they do in providing value, service and technology solutions.”

In July 2001, General Motors signed a multi-year contract awarding Union Pacific 100 percent of its finished vehicle business in the West.

Union Pacific transported 2.5 million General Motors vehicles in 2001, originating from plants in Fremont, California; Janesville, Wisconsin; Fairfax, Kansas; Arlington, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana and 23 vehicle distribution centers across the West.

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP - news) is one of America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, is the largest railroad in North America, covering 23 states across the western two-thirds of the United States. A strong focus on quality and a strategically advantageous route structure enables the company to serve customers in critical and fast growing markets. It is the leading carrier of low-sulfur coal used in electrical power generation and has broad coverage of the large chemical-producing areas along the Gulf Coast. With competitive long-haul routes between all West Coast ports and eastern gateways and as the only railroad to serve all six major gateways to Mexico, Union Pacific has the premier rail franchise in North America. The corporation also owns Overnite Transportation, a nationwide less-than-truckload carrier, and Fenix, a group of technology companies.