March 2025 NRC Bulletin

April 1, 2025

Save the Date: 21st Annual NRC Equipment Auction and Happy Hour

This springtime event brings together buyers and sellers of used railroad construction and maintenance equipment. All contractors, suppliers, and railroads are invited to sell, consign, or donate their equipment.  

In recent years, this events has featured in-person and online auctions. Proceeds from donated equipment supports the NRC’s safety training programs, including the ongoing safety training video series and FRA Part 243 templates.

Take a look at the video below for a look at what’s in store for this year’s NRC Auction.

Thank you to our Night-Before-Auction Happy Hour Sponsors!

NRC Chairman’s Column: The Voice of Railway Contractors and Suppliers Came Through Loud and Clear on Capitol Hill

Chairman Daloisio’s column in the March issue of RT&S Magazine highlights some notable firsts: It was the first time he has testified before Members of Congress in a congressional hearing. It also was the first time in the NRC’s history that a chairman or any NRC official has testified before Congress.

Check out the column for a brief recap of Chairman Daloisio’s testimony in a hearing before the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee. Read his remarks – about safety, CRISI grants, competitive bidding, and industry innovations – along with his personal reflections about this incredible honor and the implications for NRC members. Review the entire column here: NRC Chairman's Column –– March 2025 - Railway Track and Structures

NRC Members: NRC Membership Renewals are here!

It is time to renew your company's NRC membership for 2025-2026! Your dues invoice are posted to your organization’s primary account-holder's account. To view your organization’s invoice when it’s processed, please visit www.nrcma.org and login with your username and password. Once you are logged in, you will see the invoice in the ‘my invoices’ section. The invoice will present your organization with a few options on how to renew your NRC membership.

We greatly appreciate your NRC Membership, and look forward to having you all re-join this year! If you have any questions at all or would like any other additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out to marian@nrcma.org.

NRC Members: NRC Veteran's Committee Attends Job Fair at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

The NRC Veterans Committee participated in the RecruitMilitary Job Fair held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Thursday, March 27. Our committee connected with military service members who are in the process of transitioning into the civilian workforce to discuss potential career paths, and explore how their skills can benefit industries such as rail construction, operations, and logistics.

The Veterans Committee mission is to provide veterans with rail industry mentors for the opportunity to have a rewarding career in the rail industry post military service. Committee members coach and mentor potential candidates according to their rail expertise and facilitate the hiring of United States Armed Service members for NRC member companies.

Are you interested in speaking with potential candidates who have competencies in operations, skilled trades, management, procurement and logistics? These candidates bring discipline, leadership and technical experience that can be a strong asset within your organization. Please email us at info@nrcma.org for access to the list of resumes we collected.

NRC Ad Campaign to Direct Rail Shippers to Our Member Directory.

Is Your Company Listing Current?

It’s 2025. Have you reviewed your company’s listing in the NRC Member Directory lately?

Are your contacts current? Do you list all of your services? Search for your company listing here to see if it is correct: https://members.nrcma.org/AF_MemberDirectory.asp

There’s a good reason to make sure your company listing in the NRC Directory is updated. The NRC will soon begin running ads targeting rail shippers. These ads will lead directly to our Member Directory. An outdated listing may cause you to miss potential business leads.

Chances are the responsibility for your listing lies with one person at your company. Please forward this information to that person so they can take steps to update the entire listing. A current company listing will allow potential customers to reach current employees. It also will make sure you are getting all the NRC news, including important conference registration instructions and other event updates.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Issues Provisional Renewal of Special Exemption for Railroad Service Companies

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is temporarily renewing a special exemption requested byR.J. Corman Railroad Services, Cranemasters, Inc., and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association. Normally, truck drivers must stop driving after a set number of hours, but these companies are allowed to exceed those limits when responding to unexpected railroad emergencies, such as derailments, track damage, or weather-related disruptions.

The renewal will last six months from March 4, 2025 to September 4, 2025, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is asking the public to provide comments on whether this exemption should continue. If safety concerns arise or the companies do not follow the rules, the exemption can be revoked. To learn more information regarding the special exemption, please click here.

Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) Urges Congress to Oppose Increase Truck Weight or Length Limit Legislation

The Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) partners urge 119th Congress to oppose any legislation that increases truck weight or length limits on federal highways, including pilot programs or state exemptions. The CABT also urges that heavier and longer trucks would cause significant infrastructure damage requiring billions in federal spending to repair roads and bridges, therefore worsening the budget deficit.

The also letter states that local roads and bridges, which are often older and less equipped to handle such loads, would be especially affected, with over 68,600 bridges unable to safely accommodate 91,000-pound trucks, requiring costly replacements. Given the lack of sufficient funding for infrastructure maintenance, they strongly urge Congress to reject any proposals to increase current truck weight or length limits. To read the CABT Partners Letter, please click here.

AECOM Leads Design for Metro’s East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Expansion

AECOM has been selected to serve as the lead designer for Phase 2 of Metro’s East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project, a $3.57 billion initiative to improve transit along Van Nuys Boulevard with 6.7 miles of at-grade tracks and 11 stations. AECOM will use 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) to enhance efficiency and constructability, ensuring seamless integration with Metrolink, Amtrak, Metro G Line, and Metro B Line.

The project also includes street improvements and a 22-acre maintenance facility with solar power capabilities. Expected to open in 2031, the line will provide much-needed transit options for residents in Van Nuys, Panorama City, Arleta, and Pacoima. To read the full press release, please click here.