NRC chairman's column: Are you leaving anything on the table with your NRC memebership?

Have you ever returned from a resort or vacation and received an email from the venue asking you to rate various aspects of your stay? You review each survey item and then realize you never even saw or went to half of the attractions. That’s when you kick yourself for not taking full advantage of everything it had to offer.

Most top rail industry professionals know about the NRC’s annual conference. They benefit from its exemplary networking and invaluable information about railway capital plans. But do you know about everything else NRC membership brings to you and your company?

Like our industry, the NRC is continually evolving and implementing new and improved services. Survey some of those items below to see if you are leaving anything on the table with your NRC membership.

Do you know the NRC’s Annual Railroad Equipment Auction — scheduled for April 24 in Little Rock — has raised more than $1 million to fund safety resources for our members? Twenty years of auctions have not only improved safety in our industry, they also have provided a convenient way to right size your fleet or gain a specialized piece of equipment for a specific job.

Do you know the NRC is helping cultivate business development opportunities for our members? The well-trafficked member directory on our website offers an easy way to search for qualified contractors, suppliers, engineering and design firms. The NRC is supplementing that benefit with a recently implemented advertising campaign to connect rail shippers and eventually other industries with our members, the industry’s top resources for track construction and maintenance services. Make sure your listings are up to date!

The NRC is not just a conference — it’s a valuable association of railway contractors and suppliers that delivers practical resources all year round.

Do you know the NRC is a valued resource for Congress on rail-related legislation and regulations? This collaboration has evolved as a result of years of relationship-building — through Railroad Day on the Hill, grassroots events, and connections with Members of Congress and their staffs. All of these efforts help to ensure your interests are represented on important issues such as safety, labor and technology requirements, CRISI and other grant programs, and the ongoing investment in essential rail infrastructure. Railroad Day on the Hill, coming up on May 7, is a tremendous opportunity to connect with Congress and Hill staffers.

Do you know the NRC’s recently formed Veterans Committee is connecting transitioning veterans with rail industry employers? Committee members are attending military job fairs to increase awareness about the types of work veterans can perform in the rail industry. The committee has also developed and secured approval from the U.S. Department of Labor for seven apprenticeships that mirror our existing FRA training requirements. These apprenticeships help veterans gain skills and employment through on-the-job training with a member company. Through our new jobs database on the website, the NRC is also making it easy for veterans and other jobseekers to review current job openings with each of our member companies.

Do you know that the NRC makes railway construction and maintenance safer? Members can access a range of safety training materials online, including 30 safety training videos, toolbox talks, safety manuals, and FRA 49 CFR Part 243 Minimum Training Standards templates. During 2025, the NRC will launch an innovative new learning management system to make delivering and measuring quality safety training more accessible and effective for our members and their employees.

The NRC is not just a conference — it’s a valuable association of railway contractors and suppliers that delivers practical resources all year round. Take full advantage of these benefits so you don’t regret leaving anything on the table.

“We aren’t just in this industry. We are this industry.”

Joe Daloisio, NRC chairman
The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association Inc.
80 M Street, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
202-715-2920
nrcma.org info@nrcma.org