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Railroad, Railroad Transportation, Rail Transportation, Railroad Operations, Equipment Maintenance, Management, Labor Relations, Manager, Train Railroad Employees, Texas Railroad Commission Regulations, Hazardous Materials Regulations, General Code Of Operating Rules, Timetables, Railroad Accident Derailment Investigation, Inspections, Locomotives, Chief Train Dispatcher, Superintendent Of Transportation, Railroad Track Investigations, Rail Safety, Regulations, Rail Efficiency, Rail Safety Audits, Track Safety Standards, Railroad Grade Crossing, AAR Loading, Railroad AAR Loading, Railroad Permissive Crossing,

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

A multi-talented manager experienced in the rail transportation industry. His experience and extensive industry knowledge cover over 40 years in railroad operations, transportation consulting, track and equipment maintenance, labor relations, and working with regulatory agencies.

He is an experienced railroad manager with a sound knowledge of Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Bureau of Explosives (BOE), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations. He has also worked extensively with Association of American Railroads (AAR) standards and recommended practices.

As a railroad employee and as a consultant he has developed expertise in railroad rules and the generally accepted customs and practices of the railroad industry in the United States and Canada.
His areas of expertise include development and implementation of railroad personnel training programs, accident and derailment investigations, inspection of track and equipment for compliance with federal regulations and in identifying equipment and track casual defects.

For much of his career, he has been responsible for the development of employee rail yard safety rules, operating rules, and employee protection programs for chemical plant rail yards, shortline railroads, switching railroads and other commercial entities.

He has developed and conducted classroom training on rail safety and contractor safety for contractor employees working near railroad tracks and on railroad property.
He also conducted equipment operational tests and assisted clients with the development of safety protocols for the utilization of radio-controlled equipment and radio-operated safety assistance devices.

His expert consulting experience includes:
• Accident investigations.
• Damage inspections of locomotives, railcars, track, and rail equipment.
• Analysis of locomotive, track, railcar, and signal repair costs.
• Cause analysis of accidents and derailments.
• Application of highway railroad grade crossing standards.
• Testimony related to grade crossing accidents, derailment cause, railroad track safety, railcar repairs, and locomotive repair costs.

He has assisted clients in litigation that included his review and analysis of damage claims related to locomotives, rail equipment, signals and track that were damaged during accidents. His analysis has been used by other consultants in evaluation of the accuracy and reasonableness of the damages claimed by the railroad.
In non-litigation consulting he has conducted inspections for his clients related to rail equipment, rail cars, locomotives, and railroad track to document damages, prepare estimates of repairs, and respond to damage claims.

In addition to freight rail equipment and operations, he has conducted equipment inspections and analysis of Amtrak damage claims from grade crossing accidents. He has assisted clients with the subrogation of damage claims involving Amtrak and rail commuter operations.

Through his career he has provided litigation support pertaining to:
• Rail safety and compliance issues.
• Railcar and locomotive maintenance requirements, inspections, and freight car safety standards.
• Track safety standards, maintenance, and inspection.
• Rail carrier derailments on an industry owned track.
• Railroad claims due to derailments and accidents.
• Railroad loss of use claims for locomotives.
• AAR Open Top Loading Standards.
• Railroad derailment and accident determination of cause.
• FRA Regulations, AAR Recommended Practices, Hazardous Materials Regulations, tank car inspection, and shipping practices.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2000 – 2011 Strategic Transportation Services 2006 – Rimkus Consultants
2012 – RRRT
Consultant

Summary of Experience:

Assisted clients with the analysis and evaluation of signal repair costs as the result of an accident as well as railroad claims and charges for repairs of railcars, track, and locomotives as a result of accidents and derailments.
Worked as a liaison with the FRA on issues related to certification of engineers, locomotive safety standards and waiver of equipment, accident reporting and Drug & Alcohol control regulations.
He was recognized by the FRA as a source of training on Federal Regulations for designated supervisors of engineers and rail managers and for provided training for locomotive engineers on the operation of locomotives, switching, Federal Regulations and the mechanical operation of locomotives.
He has conducted safety audits for switching services inside chemical plant and inside other rail-served industries.

He has developed and conducted classroom training on rail safety (On Track Safety / Roadway Worker Protection) and contractor safety for contractor employees working near railroad tracks and on railroad property.

He has analyzed damage claims for repairs of track, rail equipment, locomotives, railcar movers and signals. This included the analysis of damage support document for repair estimates, locomotive loss of use, train delays and equipment rentals.

Specific Job Experiences:

  • Devised and conducted a rail car switching, unloading, and reloading operations audit for a company providing logistical and mixing services for automotive transportation.
  • Developed railroad rules and rail yard safety training program for companies working in industrial locations served by railroads.
  • Developed a General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR) training program for railroads and provided classroom training.
  • Developed a track safety standard program and companion training program for an industrial location.
  • Developed numerous railroad safety and railroad operating training program including providing classroom and in-field training for industrial switching and short line railroads.
  • Developed a training program and rail yard safety program for the qualification of rail yard switching employees.
  • Developed a rail yard operating practices training program to assist a company in eliminating derailments and accidents.
  • Developed and conducted a training and certification program for locomotive engineers in shortline service and served as a designated supervisor of engineers.
  • Developed and conducted a training program on Federal Regulations for designated supervisor of engineers and rail managers.
  • Provided track inspection training for the qualification of track inspectors for industrial and yard tracks.
  • Developed and provided training for railroads on the use of Track Warrant Control in the dispatching of trains.
  • Assisted several railroads in the updating of railroad rule books and timetables along with the accompanying training programs.
  • Provided training on the operation of locomotives, switching, Federal Regulations, and mechanical operations of locomotives for FRA certified and non-FRA certified locomotive engineers.

1996 – 2000 The Texas Mexican Railway
Superintendent of Transportation
General Manager

During his first year he and his team improved the safety record and implemented training programs earning 1st place in the Harriman Safety Award for 1996 and continuing to earn the award the following two years. He was a member of the railroad team responsible for earning the title, Regional Railroad of the Year for 1998.
As a senior manager he increased safety and training compliance by implementing the FRA’s Safety Assurance and Compliance Program and representing the company as the senior management member on the oversight committee. This included working with the FRA to revise and improve the Locomotive Engineer Certification and Field Observation Testing programs of the railroad.

He was the senior member of the team for investigating train or employee accidents to determine cause, instituting corrective actions, clearing derailment sites, and coordinating federal and state agencies.
He was a hands-on manager and directly supervised the operation of railroad including switching yards, over the road train operations, mechanical repair of locomotives and railcars and the maintenance, inspection and repair of the company’s railroad tracks. This included the management of track and signal contractors and a contract railcar repair operation who was conducting re-billable repairs and AAR.

Specific Job Experiences:

  • Assisted in the development of the plan to consolidate the operations of The Texas Mexican Railway Company with TFM and KCS.
  • Worked as company liaison with the city-planning agency to develop a comprehensive transportation plan and grade crossing consolidation plan for the city of Laredo, Texas.
  • Developed and trained new employees on railroad operating rules and railroad operating practices.
  • Trained operating managers on accident investigation, FRA Regulations, and rail operations management.
  • Conducted safety audits and facility inspections.

1990 – 1996 A C E Consultants
Principal and Consultant

Specific Job Experiences:

  • Analyzed proposed operating plans during rail mergers to determine their impact on the client’s operations.
  • Prepared verified statements and provided testimony on operating issues and operating plans in recent mergers.
  • Studied dispatching procedures and practices for several carriers to assess the need for new protocols and procedures.
  • Developed a course of rules and operating practices training for new train and engine crews.
  • Assisted a regional railroad in converting to the General Code of Operating Rules, including the development of a training program, preparing rulebooks, a new timetable and teaching rules classes.
  • Conducted safety audits and operating practices testing for a regional carrier to assist in their efforts to improve their safety performance.
  • Prepared an operating plan to be used before the Surface Transportation Board during a merger proceeding.

1973 – 1990 Southern Pacific Railroad 

  • Telegrapher Clerk – Crew Caller
  • Train Dispatcher
  • Regional Transportation Manager – Locomotives
  • Chief Train Dispatcher
  • Assistant Regional Manager of Operations
  • Regional Manager of Operations

During his 17 years with the SP, he has served in numerous operations positions. In his various capacities in the transportation and operating departments of the Southern Pacific, he provided analytical and planning support to Vice Presidents, General Managers, and Superintendents in the management of the railroad.
While at the SP, he began his training as a railroad expanded his knowledge or railroad rules and operating practices.

EXTENDED TRANSPORTATION TRAINING

International Freight Forwarding
Harris County Community College

Accident Investigation Training
Kansas City Southern Railroad

Railroad Track Maintenance
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.

Hazardous Materials Training
Bureau of Explosives, St. Louis, MO.

Hazardous Materials Refresher
FEMA / DOT, Houston, TX.

Hazardous Materials Regulations
ASLRRA / FRA, Corpus Christi, TX.

OSHA Safety Training
HACSC, Pasadena, TX

FRA Track Safety Standards
ASLRRA / FRA, Corpus Christi, TX.

FRA Operating Practices
ASLRRA / FRA, Corpus Christi, TX.

FRA Operating Practices
ASLRRA / FRA, Dallas, TX.

FRA Mechanical Regulations
ASLRRA / FRA, Dallas, TX.

FRA Freight Car Safety Regulations
ASLRRA / FRA, Brownsville, TX.

FRA Track Safety Standards
ASLRRA / FRA, Brownsville, TX.

Railroad Operating Practices
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.

FRA Mechanical Regulations
ASLRRA/FRA, Brownsville, TX.

FRA Operating Practices Part 219
ASLRRA/FRA, Brownsville, TX.

FRA Locomotive Engineer Certification
ASLRRA/FRA, Brownsville, TX.

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