UP recognizes 63 hazmat shippers for safety

Union Pacific has named 63 companies as annual Pinnacle Award recipients for chemical transportation safety. The award recognizes UP customers that implemented successful prevention and corrective plans and achieved a rate of zero non-accident releases (NARs) for regulated hazardous materials shipments.
Commentary

The camera never blinks

“Here’s looking at you, kid,” is a cherished line from the movie Casablanca,but when the looking is through a hidden camera lens in the locker room or even visibly trained on crewmembers inside a locomotive cab, well, you won’t hear the more famous line, “This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.”

House freight panel to host roundtable with DOT, Army Corps of Engineers

The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation, chaired by Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn.), will hold a roundtable meeting on May 15 to examine what efforts the Department of Transportation and the Army Corps of Engineers have made to coordinate freight transportation policy, and what challenges exist for greater coordination among federal departments and agencies.

Squires advances to NS presidency; five other executive changes under way

On May 10, one day after Norfolk Southern’s annual shareholders meeting in Williamsburg, Va., Chairman, CEO, and President Wick Moorman announced the appointment of James A. Squires as President of the railroad, effective June 1. Squires, 51, currently is Executive Vice President Administration. Moorman will remain as Chairman and CEO.

Sais named EVP Engineering at SYSTRA

SYSTRA has promoted Joseph Sais, P.E., to Executive Vice President, Engineering. In this capacity, Sais will oversee the firm’s U.S.-based Infrastructure, Traction Power, Systems, and Construction Management and Program Management Sectors. He will be based in New York City.

NS’s Moorman to shareholders: The best is yet to come

Norfolk Southern Corp. “has made great strides over its 30-year history, posting its best-ever performance over the past two years—and the best is still to come,” CEO Wick Moorman told shareholders at the company’s 31st annual meeting, held May 9 in Williamsburg, Va. “Our railroad is on track to continue to do great things as we continue emphasizing operating efficiency and productivity. I’m excited and optimistic about our company’s future.”

AAR: Petroleum gains pace weekly, year-to-date volume increases

The Association of American Railroads has reported an increase in traffic for the week ending May 4, 2013, with total U.S. weekly carloads of 283,916 up 2.8%, compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 245,678 units, up 2.8% compared with the same week last year. Total U.S. traffic for the week was 529,594 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.8% compared with the same week last year.

NS Roanoke building earns ENERGY STAR certification

Norfolk Southern’s office building at 110 Franklin Road SE in Roanoke has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR certification, which signifies that the building performs in the top 25% of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meets strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.

Nissan recognizes UP for logistics excellence

Union Pacific has earned Nissan Motor Company’s 2012 Logistics Carrier Conference Logistics Success Story Award, which identifies carriers and providers “that went above and beyond normal expectations in the past year.”
Commentary

Will Matt Rose succeed Warren Buffett at Berkshire Hathaway?

The evidence is mounting that BNSF chief executive Matt Rose is Warren Buffett’s choice to succeed him at Berkshire Hathaway.
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