Class I Briefs: CSX, NS, CPKC

Engage for Good honors CSX for its partnership with and support for Wounded Warrior Project®’s (WWP) Drone Training Program, which provides veterans with initial training to become certified FAA drone pilots and with advanced training if veterans are already certified. (CSX Photograph)

CSX is recognized for its work helping veterans achieve post-military employment and holds its 2024 women in rail leadership event. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) hosts its annual short line conference and presents its second-annual Bulldog Legacy Scholarships; and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) will open its newest automotive facility in June.

CSX

CSX on May 17 reported that its “Pride in Service” initiative was awarded Gold in Engage for Good’s (E4G) 22nd Annual Halo Awards for Best Employee Engagement Initiative and Silver for Best Direct Service Initiative. The railroad was honored for its partnership with and support for Wounded Warrior Project®’s (WWP) Drone Training Program, which provides veterans with initial training to become certified FAA drone pilots and with advanced training if veterans are already certified, according to the railroad. Veterans also receive hands-on experience at a CSX rail yard.

According to CSX, the Drone Training program is part of a broader partnership with WWP and its Warriors to Work® Program, which supports veterans and their families transitioning to the civilian workforce.

“The idea for the Drone Training partnership was developed due to increasing demand in the job market and increasing usage of the technology in the transportation industry,” reported CSX, which has placed more than a dozen veterans in jobs since the partnership began. “In fact, by 2025, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International estimates there will be more than 100,000 new drone pilot jobs.”

“Strengthening communities is a core value at CSX, and this Halo Award is a testament to the impact that the thousands of ONE CSX team members and our partners have across our network through our Pride in Service initiative,” CSX President and CEO Joe Hinrichs said.

In a related development, CSX recently held a drone training session for WWP.

Also on May 17, CSX reported via social media that it hosted a women in rail leadership event. “Our commitment to empowering women is stronger than ever & the attendees’ leadership continues to pave the way for positive change an inspire the next generation of women leaders,” the Class I wrote .

NS

NS on May 14 hosted its annual short line Conference, which it said brought together nearly 200 representatives from its network of 270-plus small-road partners.

NS Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins opened the conference. According to NS, he emphasized the interconnectedness of Class I’s and small roads.

“We are proud that our strategy and direction remain focused on continuous improvement and maximizing freight potential,” he said. “To our short lines: We can’t accomplish our goals without you. Over 40% of our industrial freight moves through short lines. Your partnership is critical to our ability to deliver reliable service, produce continuous product improvement, and generate smart and sustainable carload growth. I look forward to all that we can accomplish together by taking urgent action to secure new opportunities.”

NS Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer told attendees that the Class I’s goal is “to optimize our network and ensure we deliver consistent, reliable service to all our customers.” He pointed out that short lines “play a crucial role in this mission by providing critical first and final mile connections.” According to NS, Orr also acknowledged the challenges facing the industry and expressed confidence in NS’s ability to meet future demand. “We are listening and learning,” he said. “As a veteran railroader, I understand the importance of aligning efforts with our commercial commitments. We are committed to operational excellence and safety in every decision we make.”

Breakout and session topics ranged from NS’s Short Line Performance Project, which since February has yielded a 9% year-over-year increase in interchange volume, to the benefits of RailPulse, which NS helped to found in 2020, according to the Class I railroad. Stefan Loeb, Vice President of Business Development and First and Final Mile Markets at NS, was among the employees who ran sessions. Loeb and the NS Business Development and First and Final Mile Markets team have been working for a year “to maximize efficient solutions,” according to NS, which noted that the division now includes Short Line and Field Sales, Trucking and Rail Integrated Solutions, Crown Companies, Short Line Performance, Industrial Development, Real Estate, and Market Research and Forecasts. Several NS employees also presented case studies of recent transactions and updates on commodity trends and opportunities, the railroad said, and David Lehlbach, NS AVP of Strategic Planning, led a session on public-private partnerships, “outlining the opportunity short lines have to access key grant funding” and boost rail traffic. According to NS, Lehlback told attendees that out of $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program funds, $720 million was awarded to short lines.

“Public funding is a powerful tool to enhance safety, reduce supply chain bottlenecks, and support infrastructure projects that benefit both Norfolk Southern and its short line partners,” Lehlbach said, according to NS.

The conference concluded with what the railroad called a “forward-looking discussion on the evolving landscape of the rail industry and the critical role short lines will play in the transformation.”

Meanwhile, NS President and CEO Alan Shaw on May 17 awarded four Class of 2024 high school students the second-annual Bulldog Legacy Scholarship. “These East Palestine High School scholars embody everything that makes this community proud – their dedication to academic excellence, their leadership qualities, and their commitment to making a positive impact on others,” Shaw wrote in a LinkedIn post. “This also represents my personal commitment to education and the future of this community. Together, with Norfolk Southern’s support and our collective vision, we can look forward to a promising future for all. Congratulations to the Class of 2024. Go Bulldogs!”

Each of this year’s recipients will receive $1,000—up to $4,000 over the next four years, so long as they maintain their academic performance, according to NS. They each were also awarded a North Face backpack and MacBook Air.

The class of 2024 Bulldog Legacy Scholarship recipients are:

• Mackenzie Parker, who will attend Kent State University: Salem and plans to study nursing.
• Jasmine Ludt, who will attend Baldwin Wallace University and plans to major in exercise science.
• Joshua Bland, who will attend Youngstown State University and plans to study civil and construction engineering technology.
• Leila Martin, who will attend the University of Akron and plans to study pre-law.

The first scholarships were awarded in May 2023. The Bulldog Legacy Scholarship program, funded by Shaw through a $445,000 personal donation, is said to be committed to helping East Palestine High School graduating seniors who seek to attend a four-year university or two-year vocational school. The donation was placed in a special fund “created to provide scholarships for students indefinitely and is designed to generate income to support the scholarships year after year,” according to NS.

CPKC

“Our single-line network creates a powerful, dedicated automotive supply chain for customers looking to secure railcar supply and expand their facilities to meet increasing demand, including in fast-growing electric vehicle markets,” CPKC reported in a May 17 post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “We are growing with our customers, and soon we will open our newest auto facility, near Dallas, Texas.”

According to CPKC, the 30-acre Dallas Automotive Compound will be located at the Dallas Wylie Terminal.