American Railroading Podcast Beefy Marketing

Welcome to the American Railroading Podcast! In this episode our host Don Walsh is joined by guest Dave Ronzani – Director of Railcar Regulatory Compliance for AllTranstek. Together they discuss the enormous amount of regulatory oversight a certified tank car repair facility has from the DOT, PHMSA, FRA, BOE and AAR. They also discuss what it takes to receive and maintain a tank car repair facility certification including significant investment and training. Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of American Railroading. You can find the episode on the American Railroading Podcast's official website at www.AmericanRailroading.net . Welcome aboard!
KEY POINTS: 
The American Railroading Podcast remains in the Top 10% Globally, downloaded in 41 countries!
Need a gift for Mom this Mother’s Day? How about American Railroading merch from our online store?
The amount of manuals a certified tank car repair facility must have on-hand is staggering and includes requirements from the DOT, FRA, BOE, AAR, tank car owners and more, which are all based on federal laws.
In general, a facility must be a certified tank car repair facility if they are making repairs above the tank car stub-sill.
Tank car owners should always verify that the facility making repairs to their tank car has the proper certification(s) under AAR MSRP, Section C-III, Appendix B.
Cleaning and transloading facilities considering making repairs to a tank car, should first check AAR MSRP, Section C-III, Appendix B to see if they must be certified to make those repairs.
The FRA not only has the ability to levy fines against those in violation of federal regulations and requirements, but they also have arresting powers and the ability to prosecute if they feel it is warranted. 
The process to receive and maintain a tank car repair facility certification once all manuals, equipment, personnel, and training are in place includes an audit and subsequent mandatory annual audits (by the FRA, BOE and AAR) which can cost as much as $60,000.00 for each full-service tank car repair facility annually.
The most common mistake Dave sees during internal audits he performs at certified tank car repair facilities is not following the car owner’s procedures.
Happy Mother’s Day!

LINKS MENTIONED: 
https://www.americanrailroading.net/ 
https://americanrailroadingstore.company.site 
https://therevolutionrailgroup.com/ 
https://www.youtube.com/@americanrailroadingpodcast 
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dwalshX 
https://www.alltranstek.com 
https://www.aldonco.com 

 

Welcome to the 1-Year Anniversary episode of the American Railroading Podcast! In this episode our host Don Walsh, is joined by our very first guest of the podcast, Wendy Buckley, founder, president, and CEO of STARS HazMat Consulting. Together they discuss the importance of proper Hazmat training, understanding packing groups, placarding, and having the correct and current SDS. Wendy also provides updated information from the East Palestine, OH derailment from 02/03/23 regarding the remediation of the vinyl chloride, and what we can learn from it. Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of American Railroading. You can find the episode on the American Railroading Podcast's official website at www.AmericanRailroading.net . Welcome aboard!
KEY POINTS: 
The American Railroading Podcast remains in the Top 10% Globally!Don announces the podcast’s new Platinum Sponsor, the Aldon Company!The American Railroading online store is live for you to get your American Railroading merch!Guest Wendy Buckley was the first guest ever on the American Railroading podcast.Wendy explains that Hazmat in transportation is defined as “Something that poses an unreasonable risk to health, safety and property in transportation”.Rail is the safest way to transport freight by ground in the U.S. There are over 1.6 billion tons of freight moved by rail each year, of which 1% is involved in a derailment, and .001% involves a release of materials.Wendy provides updated information on the vinyl chloride material release and remediation from the East Palestine, OH train derailment of February 3, 2023, and what we as an industry can learn from it.Don and Wendy discuss the importance of proper Hazmat training, understanding packing groups, placarding, and having the correct and current SDS.Wendy emphasizes the need for transloading companies to train their employees on the differences between railcars and trucks to help mitigate the risks during and after transloading, including pre-trip inspections.Be sure to listen to Don’s new closing statement for each episode called “My Two Cents”.
LINKS MENTIONED: 
https://www.americanrailroading.net/ 
https://americanrailroadingstore.company.site 
https://therevolutionrailgroup.com/ 
https://www.youtube.com/@americanrailroadingpodcast 
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dwalshX 
https://www.starshazmat.com 
https://www.aldonco.com 
https://www.aar.org 

Welcome to the American Railroading Podcast! In this episode our host Don Walsh, is joined by guest John Schmitter, co-founder and CCO of RailState based in Quincy, MA. Together they discuss the advantages of embracing and utilizing modern technology in the railroad industry, including sharing some stories of how far technology has come in railroading, and where there are still some needs. Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of American Railroading. You can find the episode on the American Railroading Podcast's official website at www.AmericanRailroading.net . Welcome aboard!
KEY POINTS: 
The American Railroading Podcast remains in the Top 10% Globally!The podcast has now been downloaded in 34 countries! There are Platinum, Gold, and Silver Sponsorships available for the podcast.The American Railroading online store is live!Don shares his experience of having to create handwritten railcar inspections and BRC estimates on mobile railcar repair callouts and discusses how far technology has come.John gives his thoughts on some technological advances he’s seen in his 40 years in the industry.The Railroad industry invests a lot of capital in technology each year, despite not being regulated to do so.Other modes of freight transportation in the U.S. such as shipping, air and ground have greater access to network visibility than the railroads currently do.John feels that having greater visibility to the entire railroad network can help shippers, government agencies, ports and terminals, commodity brokers, and even first responders.Be sure to listen to Don’s new closing statement for each episode called “My Two Cents”.
LINKS MENTIONED: 
https://www.americanrailroading.net/ 
https://therevolutionrailgroup.com/ 
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dwalshX 
https://www.youtube.com/@americanrailroadingpodcast 
https://www.railstate.com 

Welcome to the American Railroading Podcast! In this our first episode of Season 2, our host Don Walsh, is in fact our guest on this episode as President & CEO of consulting and brokering firm, The Revolution Rail Group based in Conroe, TX. Producer John joins Don on this episode, and together they do a brief review of each podcast episode from Season 1 along with their thoughts and audience feedback, after which Producer John then interviews Don and they discuss Don’s background in the industry, his thoughts on where the industry is headed in 2024, some hints on where the podcast is headed in Season 2, and Don shares some stories from his time in the field. Tune in to this first episode of Season 2 now to gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of American Railroading. You can find the episode on the American Railroading Podcast's official website at www.AmericanRailroading.net . Welcome aboard!
KEY POINTS: 
The American Railroading Podcast remains in the Top 10%!There are Platinum, Gold, and Silver Sponsorships available for the podcast.Wendy Buckley, President & CEO of STARS Hazmat Consulting, the first guest of the podcast, has agreed to be a guest for the 1-year anniversary.With a failure rate of .001%, the railroad industry is far safer than they’re often given credit for.Over 74,000 first responders have received FREE emergency Hazmat training by MxV Rail alone via a grant/scholarship since 1985 via their SERTC program.The railroad industry employs over 700,000 people and is a major contributor to the U.S. economy.U.S. Armed Forces veterans are estimated to outnumber non-veterans in the railroad industry by a 2 to 1 margin.The high interest rates and high cost of manufacturing, along with longer lease term requirements are impacting the railcar leasing industry.Our industry’s HM-216b tank car certified shop network simply doesn’t have the capacity to handle the amount of tank cars due for requalification in 2024 and 2025 without improved efficiencies and car owners planning far in advance.One of the new upcoming series on the podcast in Season 2 will be “Tech Talk”.
LINKS MENTIONED: 
https://www.americanrailroading.net/ 
https://therevolutionrailgroup.com/ 
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dwalshX 

Welcome to the American Railroading Podcast! In this episode our host Don Walsh, is joined by guest Tony Hatch, Senior Wall Street Transportation Analyst, Founder and President of ABH Consulting based in New York City, NY. Together they discuss railroading’s 2023 year in review, including everything from pending changes at the STB, to railroad safety and service improvements. Tune in to this final episode of Season 1 now to gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of American Railroading. You can find the episode on the American Railroading Podcast's official website at www.AmericanRailroading.net . Welcome aboard!


KEY POINTS: 


Mr. Hatch is a graduate of Harvard University and has been a Sr. Analyst on Wall Street for over 20 years.Tony’s passion for railroading is only surpassed by his love of the L.A. Dodgers.Don and Tony discuss STB leadership changes announced in November 2023, and what can affect the decision of the new appointee in 2024.The Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern class 1 railroad merger in 2023 (now CPKC), may be the last one we see in our lifetime. Tony explains why.Class 1 railroad service has improved in 2023 but will always need to continuously improve as shippers’ expectations will continuously be raised.Tony gives a great explanation and breakdown of the well-publicized railroad labor contract negotiation in 2023, and what was nearly a labor strike…or was it?Class 1 railroads have been partnering with and even acquiring short-line railroads in 2023. Tony breaks down the “why’s” of these partnerships and acquisitions.The East Palestine, OH train derailment in February 2023 prompted many responses and calls for action and change. Tony shares his opinions on both.Tony shares his insight on the investment capital spending done by railroads in 2023 and beyond.Thank you all for joining us for Season 1 of the American Railroading Podcast! We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! See you in 2024 for Season 2!


LINKS MENTIONED: 


https://www.americanrailroading.net/ 


https://therevolutionrailgroup.com/ 


https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dwalshX 


https://www.abhatchconsulting.com


https://www.railtrends.com 

Welcome to the American Railroading Podcast! In this episode our host Don Walsh, is joined by the man who gave him his start in the industry, guest Joseph F. Schieszler, Sr., Founder and Chairman of Rescar Companies, based in Downers Grove, IL. Together they discuss Joe’s journey from growing up in a small town near Cincinnati, OH., to the creation of railcar maintenance company Rescar; the formation of railcar fleet management, engineering, and technical services company AllTranstek; and the impact Joe has had on the industry as a Difference Maker. Tune in to this episode now to gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of American Railroading. You can find the episode on the American Railroading Podcast's official website at www.AmericanRailroading.net . Welcome aboard!


KEY POINTS: 


Joe Schieszler, Sr. came from a small town near Cincinnati, OH with a HS graduating class of 66.Joe attended the University of Cincinnati on a full academic scholarship, graduating with a degree in chemical engineering.In 1969 Joe co-founded a company called Resco, who specialized in reclaiming and repairing box car load restraining equipment, with an initial personal investment of $3,000.00. In 1975 Mr. Schieszler founded Rescar, to clean, repair, paint, and line railcars, which has since grown to be the largest provider of railcar maintenance in North America.Joe has 7 children, all of whom have worked for Rescar, 3 of whom have overseen the daily operations since his semi-retirement.AllTranstek was formed in 1999, who today provides fleet management services for over 300,000 railcars, and provide tech services including engineering services, regulatory and NDT support, training, education, and more, with a large presence on industry committees and task forces.Joe has quite the success story and has made a significant impact on the industry and to those in it.Mr. Schieszler has enjoyed 38 wonderful years of marriage with his wife LaVerne, and they continue to reside in the Chicago suburbs today.Joe Schieszler, Sr. is the first recipient of the American Railroading – Lifetime Achievement Award.The American Railroading Podcast has now been downloaded in 22 countries!


LINKS MENTIONED: 


https://www.americanrailroading.net/ 


https://therevolutionrailgroup.com/ 


https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dwalshX 


https://www.rescar.com 


https://www.alltranstek.com