FORT WORTH, TX -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 11/08/07 -- BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) has been ranked No. 1 in G.I. Jobs magazine's annual listing of the Top 50 Military-Friendly Employers, moving up from fourth place on last year's list. Only 2 percent of companies eligible for the list were included.

"Hiring America's military veterans is a smart business decision for which all of the Top 50 companies should be commended," said Chris Hale, general manager of the publication. "Sure, it's patriotic to hire military, but that's not why corporate America does so. These companies understand how military knowledge, training and real-world experience positively affect their bottom line."

"We are humbled, and proud, to be selected the No. 1 of 2,500 companies," said Connie McLendon, military staffing manager for BNSF. "We have worked hard to increase our outreach to members in transition from the military to civilian work. Just to be among the Top 50 is an honor."

Firms making more than $1 billion in annual revenues were surveyed to determine which companies put forth the best efforts and produced the best results in hiring America's former service members, and which had the best policies for those who continue to serve in the National Guard and Reserve components, according to the magazine.

BNSF has an aggressive hiring program aimed at people transitioning from the military to civilian life. Almost 30 percent of BNSF new-hires this year are veterans, up from 20 percent in 2006.

"Those with military experience are mission focused, highly skilled, motivated, and posses unique experiences and technical knowledge," says McLendon. "The military candidate embodies the core competencies essential at BNSF: leadership, teamwork and the ability to perform safely in a fast-paced, dynamic environment."

More than 175 BNSF employees are serving on active duty in support of the War on Terrorism. Many BNSF employees have been called to active duty more than once. Almost 600 BNSF employees have been called to active duty since Sept. 11, 2001.

BNSF offers enhanced and extended benefits for those employees called to active duty in the armed services, including make-whole pay and continued health-care benefits. In addition, the railway offers 15 days of make-whole pay for annual training and drill duty.

A subsidiary of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (NYSE: BNI), BNSF Railway Company operates one of the largest North American rail networks, with about 32,000 route miles in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. BNSF is among the world's top transporters of intermodal traffic, moves more grain than any other American railroad, carries the components of many of the products we depend on daily, and hauls enough low-sulfur coal to generate about ten percent of the electricity produced in the United States. BNSF is an industry leader in Web-enabling a variety of customer transactions at www.bnsf.com.

Contact:
Patrick Hiatte
(817) 867-6418