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The Union Pacific Railroad’s “Building America” ad Campaign is brilliant. The smooth rich voice of Sam Elliott saying, “The road to the future may not be a road at all”, while the camera pans through the most majestic vistas of western America makes you well up with pride and admiration. No kidding, I had a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. Is this commercial just “hype” for the Union Pacific; moreover, is the railroad industry producing commercials to make them feel like they are doing something greater than what they are doing?

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I was talking to one of my colleagues the other day and I said: “If you took the initials and logos off of every railroad in the country…no more UP, BNSF, CSXT, NS, KCS – no labels of any kind, you couldn’t differentiate one railroad from another.” I’m talking about management/employee relations, dispositions and overall arrogance. Railroad corporations and their management styles mirror each other throughout the industry. Railroads have not evolved into the 21st century. They have a 19th century attitude with a 21st century portfolio.

The worker has not changed either. Where the companies are profit driven the workers are as well. For example UP’s Project 75 looked to reduce operating cost by 25% while their stock prices soared to record highs. Upper management got large bonuses, employees got a 17% raise, middle management got nothing, and no one was happy. The question is: What is the future of the railroad? Neither side can see the big picture: everyone’s in it for themselves. Who’s suffering?—

The customer.