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Marmon Group

Marmon Rail Launches ProTecht, Rail Industry’s First Mobile Autonomous Tank Car Cleaning System

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Marmon Rail has unveiled ProTecht, a proprietary mobile cleaning system that brings safer, more sustainable, and highly efficient on-site tank car maintenance to rail yards across the U.S. and Canada. Operated by Marmon Rail brands UTLX in the U.S. and Procor in Canada, ProTecht is the rail industry’s first mobile, autonomous cleaning solution for tank cars.

Tank car cleaning — traditionally a hazardous process requiring workers to enter confined spaces with potential chemical residues — is now automated with ProTecht’s patent-pending technology. Developed over four years by inventor Evan Ingram, the system is compatible with all tank car types and offers three cleaning modes: water filtration for light residues, steam injection for midgrade commodities, and a high-impact automated cannon for hardened residues.

By using a closed-loop system that filters and reuses water and detergent, ProTecht reduces waste, lowers environmental impact, and boosts operational uptime. The mobile design eliminates costly transport to fixed cleaning facilities, cutting downtime and improving fleet utilization.

“Marmon Rail has long led the industry in railcar repair,” said Jay McGill, President, Repair Services, On-Site & Mobile. “ProTecht builds on that legacy with a cutting-edge system that is safe, sustainable, versatile, and purpose-built for on-site deployment.”

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Forest River

Forest River Marine Launches Dockside, an Entry-Level Pontoon Line for New Boaters

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Forest River Marine has introduced Dockside, a new pontoon boat brand designed to make boating more accessible for first-time owners while still appealing to seasoned enthusiasts.

With a starting price of $25,999, Dockside offers exceptional value without sacrificing quality. The line features standard blacked-out rails and a fully weather- and fade-resistant composite deck—avoiding the marine-grade plywood often used by competitors.

“Our mission with Dockside has been to create something truly accessible—without sacrificing quality or enjoyment,” said Philip Podgorny, General Manager of Forest River Marine. “It’s not only a great first boat—it’s the beginning of a lifelong adventure.”

Dockside focuses on delivering an easy, enjoyable experience rather than overwhelming buyers with complex options. The pontoons are versatile for cruising, fishing, swimming, or simply relaxing, and their user-friendly layout makes them inviting for all skill levels.

The new brand joins Forest River Marine’s portfolio alongside Berkshire, South Bay, and Trifecta, serving as a gateway into the boating lifestyle and paving the way for customers to grow within the company’s lineup.

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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BNSF

BNSF and CSX Expand Coast-to-Coast Intermodal Services

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

BNSF Railway and CSX Transportation announced the launch of new intermodal service options designed to give shippers seamless, efficient coast-to-coast solutions.

The expanded offerings include direct domestic routes linking Southern California with Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida, as well as a new service connecting Phoenix, Arizona, and Atlanta, Georgia. The latter aims to shift freight from highway to rail through a smooth handoff between the two railroads.

On the international side, new direct intermodal services will connect the Port of New York and New Jersey, and Norfolk, Virginia, with Kansas City. To further support growth, BNSF will also add two new 10,000-foot sidings between Phoenix and Flagstaff, improving efficiency on its busy Southern Transcon corridor.

“This collaboration between BNSF and CSX demonstrates the power of partnership, delivering greater flexibility, efficiency, and value for our customers,” said Jon Gabriel, BNSF Group Vice President of Consumer Products.

Drew Johnson, CSX Vice President of Intermodal Sales and Marketing, added, “Together, we’re opening access to key markets and strengthening options for our mutual customers.”

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: Why Cash Is Like Oxygen

Investing is about making your money grow—but according to Warren Buffett, there are moments when preserving liquidity is more critical than chasing returns. In those situations, cash isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.

At the 2022 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting, Buffett compared cash to something even more fundamental: “It’s like oxygen. It’s there all the time, but if it disappears for a few minutes, it’s all over.”

He emphasized that while opportunities to invest and grow wealth are important, so is the ability to stay in the game. “There have been a few times in history, and there will be more… where if you don’t have [cash], you don’t get to play the next day.”

Buffett’s message is clear: cash might not earn high returns, but in times of crisis, it provides the flexibility and stability needed to survive—and eventually thrive.

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Pilot Flying J

Pilot Company Expands with New Chicopee Travel Center

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Pilot Company, North America’s largest operator of travel centers, has broken ground on a new Pilot Truck Stop and Travel Center in Chicopee, Massachusetts. Located just off the Massachusetts Turnpike, the facility will create 90 jobs—70 full-time and 20 part-time—and is expected to contribute roughly $1 million annually in local tax revenue.

The project is part of Pilot’s ongoing expansion and investment in its network. In recent months, the company has opened new locations in Louisiana, Colorado, Texas, British Columbia, California, and Wisconsin, while also completing renovations at 11 existing travel centers across the U.S.

Pilot is also advancing its infrastructure for the future of transportation, adding EV fast-charging stations at 36 locations since March. The new charging sites extend Pilot’s coast-to-coast EV network to major routes across 35 states.

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

BHSI Names Irfan Esa Head of National Business in the UK

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has appointed Irfan Esa as Head of National Business in the UK.

Esa has played a key role in expanding BHSI’s National Property business since joining the company in 2020. With over 20 years of experience in the UK insurance market, including 12 years in senior roles at another insurer, he will now lead the growth of BHSI’s property, casualty, and specialty lines outside the London market.

“Irfan has been instrumental in building our National Property business,” said Nick Major, Country Manager, UK, BHSI. “His expertise, vision, and leadership make him the ideal choice to drive continued growth.”

Esa is based in Manchester.

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Acquisitions

Berkshire Hathaway Acquires Global Rodent Control Leader Bell Laboratories

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway has completed its latest acquisition, adding Bell Laboratories of Windsor, Wisconsin, to its portfolio. The deal closed on July 31, bringing into the fold a company that fits Warren Buffett’s preference for businesses with stable, long-term revenue streams.

Founded in 1974 by Malcolm Stack, Bell Laboratories began with a single product, Rodent Cake, and has since grown into a global leader in rodent control. The company manufactures a wide range of products—including rodenticides, tamper-resistant bait stations, glue boards, traps, and attractants—sold across six continents to pest control and agricultural industries.

Bell has distinguished itself through continuous research and development, registering more rodenticide products with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency than any other American manufacturer. It is also unique in synthesizing its own anticoagulant and acute technical materials, ensuring full control over product quality.

With more than 600,000 square feet of facilities at its Windsor headquarters and a growing international presence, Bell Laboratories has firmly established itself as a global powerhouse in pest management—now under the Berkshire Hathaway umbrella.

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: Don’t Waste Time Predicting the Market

With countless opinions and forecasts swirling around the stock market’s future, it’s easy to feel compelled to form your own outlook—bullish or bearish—to guide your investment strategy. But legendary investor Warren Buffett advises against it.

At the 1994 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting, Buffett made it clear: trying to predict market movements is not just unhelpful—it can be distracting. “Charlie and I never have an opinion about the market because it wouldn’t be any good,” he said. Instead of speculating on what the market might do, Buffett focuses on what he can know: the quality of individual businesses.

He warns that basing investment decisions on market predictions means potentially ignoring solid opportunities simply because of fears about the broader market. “To give up something that you do know and that is profitable for something that you don’t know and won’t know… it just doesn’t make any sense to us,” Buffett explained.

In short, don’t get caught up in trying to guess the market’s next move. Focus instead on identifying great businesses—and let the rest take care of itself.

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Brooks

Brooks Running Achieves Record Quarterly Revenue for Second Consecutive Quarter

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Brooks Running posted its second straight all-time quarterly revenue record, with global sales up 19% year-over-year and double-digit growth across every region and channel. North America rose 13% on strong wholesale footwear demand, while Europe, the Middle East, and Africa surged 44% to their best quarter ever. Asia Pacific and Latin America climbed 55%, fueled by standout gains in China (+80%) and Korea (+218%).

Brooks outpaced industry growth in the U.S., securing three of the top six performance footwear styles at retail in Q2 and taking the No. 1 spot in Germany for adult performance running shoes priced €90 and above. CEO Dan Sheridan credited the brand’s “innovative product pipeline” and “authentic touchpoints with consumers” for sustaining momentum in a competitive market.

Product innovation was a key driver, with eight new footwear launches in Q2 contributing to 28% unit growth in fresh styles. The Glycerin super franchise led with a 27% global revenue jump, while Ghost Max sales soared 82%. In EMEA, core performance styles all saw double-digit gains, and in APLA, premium models — including a 150% lift in Hyperion sales — propelled growth.

A highlight of the quarter was Brooks’ debut of Disney-themed performance shoes through its new runDisney partnership. The Ghost Max 2 Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse editions sold out online within 12 hours, with restocks setting e-commerce revenue and conversion records.

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

BHSI Enters Canadian Programs Market, Appoints David Tran as Head of Programs

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has expanded into the Programs market in Canada, naming David Tran as Head of Programs, Canada.

“BHSI continues to grow steadily across Canada, expanding our team, our geographic reach, and our product lines,” said Andrew Knight, Country Manager, Canada. “Our move into the Programs space is a natural evolution of our strategy to ‘go wide and go deep.’ I’m thrilled to welcome David, whose extensive expertise will be instrumental in driving this strategic initiative.”

Tran brings over 20 years of experience in underwriting and strategic relationship management, most recently serving as Vice President, National Strategic Relationships at another insurer. In his new role, he will lead program strategies and oversee the launch of a national platform delivering insurance solutions through partnerships with program administrators, MGAs, and brokers. He will be based in Toronto.

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.