Railroad Staffing Shortages Compromise Safety and Service

Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on the six Class One railroads to address severe staffing shortages that are endangering workers, increasing the risk of derailments, and raising costs for farmers, businesses and consumers. She wants the railroads to provide an update on their long-term staffing strategies to get back on track.

“Farmer, manufacturers, paper mills, energy producers, and many other industries are dependent on efficient and cost-effective freight rail,” Baldwin says. “Recently, service levels from Class One railroads experienced severe disruptions and certain metrics, particularly staffing, have yet to return to pre-COVID-19 levels.”

That means much of the industry is reversing any progress it’s made so far. Since implementing a strategy to reduce costs by using longer trains and fewer staff, Class One railroads have reduced overall staff numbers by 30 percent. That’s compared to a three percent decrease in carloads and a one percent drop in tons of freight.