Idaho Grower Shippers Association hoping to bring railroad hub to Pocatello

Idaho’s proximity to large North American population centers, as well as seaports, has always made transporting potatoes a challenge.

Shawn Boyle, president of the Idaho Grower Shippers Association, said 60 to 70% of Idaho potatoes are shipped by truck, with the remaining potatoes transported by rail. Fifteen to 20 years ago, that ratio was reversed, Boyle added.

Because of the volatility of trucking industry — including periodic driver shortages and fluctuating gas prices — as well as the distance the perishable potatoes need to travel, Boyle said the ideal sweet spot for Idaho shippers’ truck-rail ratio might be closer to 50-50.

Current IGSA efforts include having a rail center facility built in eastern Idaho in Pocatello. Boyle has been working with government officials and transportation firms to get the proposed facility on its way.

Part of the motivation for a rail hub is to cut down on the length of trips truck drivers need to make.

“I’ve focused on a lot on rail as a possible solution. We’re working with a business out of Salt Lake (City) to build an intermodal facility in Pocatello,” he said. “We’ll have trucks transporting it to that location — so they’re making short runs — and then rail heading east or to the west coast to be exported by ship.”

Boyle feels that while additional rail shipping would be a positive development, but in many cases trucks will always be the preferred option. A large shipment of potatoes is required to justify using rail, he said.

“You can put so much more product in a rail car, but a lot of times people just don’t want that much product at one time,” he said.

RELATED: Boyle named Spudman’s Emerging Leader Award winner