Class I Briefs: BNSF, CSX, UP
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
The BNSF Ottumwa, Iowa, maintenance-of-way team recently achieved nine years injury-free. (BNSF Photograph)
A BNSF maintenance-of-way team in Iowa marks a safety milestone. Also, CSX joins Blue Star Families to ring the Nasdaq opening bell; and a Union Pacific (UP) Dispatching Director earns the “military-friendly” Patriot Award.
BNSF
BNSF’s Ottumwa, Iowa, m/w team recently achieved nine years injury-free, according to the Class I railroad. “With 25 dedicated professionals, this milestone is proof that safety is always their top priority,” BNSF reported via LinkedIn on May 28. “The group attributes their safety streak to daily communication, learning from close calls and strong team relationships.”
In a related development, BNSF’s San Bernardino, Calif., intermodal facility team achieved 500 days injury-free in March.
CSX
CSX on May 23 visited the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York City’s Times Square with Blue Star Families, a chapter-based non-profit organization representing military connected families. Bryan Tucker, CSX Vice President Stakeholder Engagement and Sustainability, joined Blue Star Families Co-founder and CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet to ring the Opening Bell at 9:30 a.m.
“As one of our #CSXPrideInService partners, we proudly to support and recognize Blue Star Families for the essential services they provide to help strengthen our nation’s military families,” CSX reported via social media on May 28.
“Always proud of our ONE CSX team and our commitment to support our active military, veterans, first responders, and their families through our CSX Pride In Service initiatives,” wrote CSX President and CEO Joe Hinrichs in a LinkedIn post. “Thanks to everyone for all the support! Roughly one out of five members of our ONE CSX team across the company served our nation in some capacity.”
Separately, CSX was recently recognized for its work helping veterans achieve post-military employment.
UP
UP Director-Dispatching Practices and Workforce Jason Elliott was recently honored with an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award “for exemplifying the railroad’s military-friendly workplace practices,” UP reported May 28 in the Inside Track section of its website. The U.S. Department of Defense award recognizes workplace supervisors “for their outstanding support of an employee service member and their family,” according to UP.
Elliott oversees the hiring and training of new train dispatchers at UP’s Harriman Dispatching Center (HDC) in Omaha, Neb. He was nominated by Train Dispatcher Michele Lucas, who is not only a full-time career railroader at UP, but also trains and mentors fellow troops as a Master Sergeant in the Nebraska Air National Guard.
“The Friday before my new-hire orientation, I was given dates to deploy,” Lucas told Inside Track. “On my first day, I handed Jason my deployment information; he was supportive and walked me through everything.”
According to UP, Elliott encouraged Lucas to qualify with the railroad, deploy, and complete any additional training when she returned.
“She was nervous since she was new to the company,” Elliott told Inside Track. “I told her it wasn’t an issue, that a lot of people who work here are in the military reserves and do well in this role.”
UP noted that it has a long history of employing veterans, dating back to the 1860s when the railroad recruited and employed Civil War veterans. Today, approximately 18% of the Class I’s workforce has military experience or are still actively serving in the Guard or Reserves.
Following Lucas’ six-month deployment, she returned to UP and completed rules testing and on-the-job training, as well as participated in several peer-to-peer sessions to finalize her required learning.
“Union Pacific has been supportive of my military time,” Lucas said. “I love it here and enjoy being around everyone.”
In 2022, UP’s Brett Hiscock was also recognized with a Patriot Award.
