NS
“Ft. Wayne Terminal’s ‘Speak Up’ culture prioritizes open communication, crew member involvement in decision-making, and follow-through on issues,” NS General Manager, Northern Region Jaspreet Pannu reported. “Leadership strives to build a positive rapport with crew members and help them feel heard. When a concern is raised, leadership addresses the issue promptly and keeps the employee informed about the status.”
NS quoted Pannu in its Dec. 4 Story Yard article on the terminal’s advancement of a “Speak Up” culture. Nearly 300 railroaders work at the Ft. Wayne Terminal in northeast Indiana, which serves major agricultural, automotive and metals customers. Each day begins with a morning call led by Engineering and Mechanical leaders to organize the day’s tasks, according to the Class I. “Railroaders are encouraged to voice their insights on improving safety, efficiency and the overall work environment,” it said.
“All departments are on the same page with the message we want to deliver to our teams,” reported Zoe Bates, Senior Terminal Manager. “This allows all departments to deliver one clear, concise message to their teams. It provides a basis for our meetings with our crews, during which we have them close out the conversation with their own safety messages, ranging from concerns they want to bring up to advice for their peers. It’s crucial that they are involved in the process of creating and maintaining a safe working environment.”
This feedback is solicited from crews on a consistent basis after every pre-shift briefing, according to NS. “Instead of a traditional one-way conversation, we’re now getting feedback naturally from our team members during each shift,” Terminal Superintendent Damion Wilson reported. “We want to know if there’s anything we can do to help our teams be more successful during their shift.”
Performance Standard Engagements (PSEs) also help leadership build rapport with crew members, according to NS. “During PSEs, leadership spends one-on-one time with railroaders in the field to understand their roles and the challenges they face,” the railroad reported. “Each week, leaders walk the tracks and ride trains with railroaders to make them feel more comfortable bringing up issues and concerns in real-time.”
Additionally, the Ft. Wayne Terminal has a Local Safety and Service Committee (LSSC). This self-directed team is run by front-line crew members, including Building and Bridges, Communications and Signals, Claims, and the Safety Department. According to NS, the LSSC “proactively identifies issues for resolution and works collaboratively with leadership to resolve them.” The committee, it added, benefits from strong cooperation between the Mechanical, Engineering, and Transportation departments. “Positive interpersonal relationships within the group help accelerate solutions,” NS said.
In other NS news, the Class I railroad recently debuted its TAG (Tennessee, Alabama, & Georgia Railway) Heritage locomotive.
UP
Eden Prairie, Minn.-based C.H. Robinson on Dec. 3 honored 12 companies as part of its 28th annual Carrier Appreciation Day, recognizing “the best of the best in the railroad and carrier community,” it reported via LinkedIn. For 2024, UP and Genesis Intermodal earned “Railroad Carrier of the Year” and “Carrier of the Year, respectively. Also recognized were Continuum Transportation Services Ltd., Day N Nite Transportation Inc., FMX, Irex Logistics LLC, K&C Transport LLC, Mountain Intermodal Inc., SCC Transport Inc., Singh Trucklines LLC, Sunrise Trucking Inc., and Vital Drayage.
“Your dedication, top-notch service, and commitment to going above and beyond are truly appreciated,” C.H. Robinson said. “Thank you for keeping our communities connected and on the move!”
UP shared the LinkedIn post with its followers and reported being honored to receive the award, which is distributed each year “to a railroad based on ease of doing business, partnership approach and ability to grow together.”
NS was selected as “Railroad Carrier of the Year” in 2022.
