1.0.0.3 false Accounts Receivable, Net (Unaudited) false 1 $ false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 2 Accounts Receivable, Net [Abstract] 0 us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 3 Accounts Receivable, Net 1 us-gaap_LoansNotesTradeAndOtherReceivablesDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0   <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><b>3.</b>   <b>Accounts Receivable, Net</b> </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">          BNSF Railway sells a portion of its accounts receivable to Santa Fe Receivables Corporation (SFRC), a special purpose subsidiary. The sole purpose and activity of SFRC is to purchase receivables from BNSF Railway. SFRC transfers an undivided interest in such receivables, with limited exceptions, to a master trust and causes the trust to issue an undivided interest in the receivables to investors (the A/R sales program). The undivided interests in the master trust may be in the form of certificates or purchased interests and are isolated from BNSF Railway which eliminates all of BNSF Railway’s control over the undivided interest. SFRC periodically incurs minor legal fees that are paid by BNSF Railway and are financed through short-term intercompany payables. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">          BNSF Railway’s total capacity to sell undivided interests to investors under the A/R sales program was $700 million at September 30, 2009, which was comprised of two $175 million, 364-day accounts receivable facilities and two $175 million, 3-year accounts receivable facilities. Both 364-day facilities will mature in November 2009 and are expected to be renewed. The two 3-year facilities will mature in November 2010. Each of the financial institutions providing credit for the facilities is rated Aa3/A+ or higher. There was no outstanding interest held by investors under the A/R sales program at September 30, 2009. Outstanding undivided interests held by investors under the A/R sales program were $50 million at December 31, 2008, with $12.5 million outstanding under each of the four facilities. These undivided interests in receivables are excluded from accounts receivable by BNSF Railway in connection with the sale of undivided interests under the A/R sales program. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, an interest in $864 million and $878 million, respectively, of receivables had been transferred by SFRC to the master trust. When SFRC transfers the interest in these receivables to the master trust, it retains an undivided interest in the receivables, which is included in accounts receivable in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. The interest that continues to be held by SFRC of $864 million and $828 million at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, less an allowance for uncollectible accounts, reflected the total accounts receivable transferred by SFRC to the master trust less $50 million of outstanding undivided interests held by investors at December 31, 2008. Due to a relatively short collection cycle, the fair value of the undivided interest transferred to investors in the A/R sales program approximated book value, and there was no gain or loss from the transaction. </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"> <b> </b> <b> </b> </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">          BNSF Railway retains the collection responsibility with respect to the accounts receivable. Proceeds from collections reinvested in the A/R sales program were approximately $11.2 billion and $14.5 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. No servicing asset or liability has been recorded because the fees BNSF Railway receives for servicing the receivables approximate the related costs. SFRC’s costs of the sale of receivables are included in other expense, net and were $2 million and $9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. These costs fluctuate monthly with changes in prevailing interest rates as well as unused available commitments and include interest, discounts associated with transferring the receivables under the A/R sales program to SFRC, program fees paid to banks, incidental commercial paper issuing costs and fees for unused commitment availability. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">          The amount of accounts receivable sold by BNSF Railway fluctuates based on borrowing needs and upon the availability of receivables and is directly affected by changing business volumes and credit risks, including dilution and delinquencies. In order for there to be an impact on the amount of receivables BNSF Railway could sell, the combined dilution and delinquency percentages would have to exceed an established threshold. BNSF Railway has historically experienced very low levels of dilution or delinquency and was below the established reserve threshold at September 30, 2009. Based on the current levels, if dilution or delinquency percentages were to increase by one percentage point, there would be no impact to the amount of receivables BNSF Railway could sell. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">          Receivables eligible under the A/R sales program do not include receivables over 90 days past due or concentrations over certain limits with any one customer and certain other receivables. At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, $15 million and $9 million, respectively, of such accounts receivable were greater than 90 days old. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">          BNSF Railway maintains an allowance for bill adjustments and uncollectible accounts based upon the expected collectibility of accounts receivable, including receivables transferred to the master trust. At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, $31 million and $43 million, respectively, of such allowances had been recorded, of which $31 million and $42 million, respectively, had been recorded as a reduction to accounts receivable, net. The remaining $1 million at December 31, 2008 had been recorded in other current liabilities because it related to the outstanding undivided interests held by investors. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, $6 million and $5 million, respectively, of accounts receivable were written off, net of recoveries. Credit losses are based on specific identification of uncollectible accounts and application of historical collection percentages by aging category. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">          The investors in the master trust have no recourse to BNSF Railway’s other assets except for customary warranty and indemnity claims. Creditors of BNSF Railway have no recourse to the assets of the master trust or SFRC unless and until all claims of their respective creditors have been paid. The A/R sales program includes thresholds for dilution, delinquency, and write-off ratios that, if exceeded, allow the investors participating in this program, at their option, to cancel the program. At September 30, 2009, BNSF Railway was in compliance with these provisions. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">          See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information about recent accounting pronouncements that will have an impact on the A/R sales program upon adoption. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true