As part of our Fort Wayne Terminal’s efforts to advance a Speak Up culture where everyone is heard, each day begins with a morning call led by Engineering and Mechanical leaders to organize the day’s tasks. Railroaders are encouraged to voice their insights on improving safety, efficiency, and the overall work environment. Throughout the facility, a robust culture of open communication, collaboration, and teamwork thrives, reinforcing our Speak Up culture.

“All departments are on the same page with the message we want to deliver to our teams,” says Zoe Bates, Senior Terminal Manager. “This allows all departments to deliver one clear, concise message to their teams. It provides a basis for our meetings with our crews, during which we have them close out the conversation with their own safety messages, ranging from concerns they want to bring up to advice for their peers – it’s crucial that they are involved in the process of creating and maintaining a safe working environment.”

This feedback is solicited from crews on a consistent basis after every pre-shift briefing, all of which are led by trainmasters and include a variety of information related to the day’s work. “Instead of a traditional one-way conversation, we’re now getting feedback naturally from our team members during each shift,” says Damion Wilson, Terminal Superintendent. “We want to know if there’s anything we can do to help our teams be more successful during their shift.”

Located in northeast Indiana, the Ft. Wayne Terminal serves major agricultural, automotive, and metals customers. Nearly 300 railroaders work at the site.

“Ft. Wayne Terminal’s Speak Up culture prioritizes open communication, crew member involvement in decision-making, and follow-through on issues,” says Jaspreet Pannu, General Manager, Northern Region. “Leadership strives to build a positive rapport with crew members and help them feel heard. When a concern is raised, leadership addresses the issue promptly and keeps the employee informed about the status.”

Ft. Wayne’s Local Safety and Service Committee (LSSC) is a self-directed team run by front-line crew members, including Building and Bridges, Communications and Signals, Claims, and the Safety Department. The LSSC proactively identifies issues for resolution and works collaboratively with leadership to resolve them. The committee benefits from strong cooperation between the Mechanical, Engineering, and Transportation departments. Positive interpersonal relationships within the group help accelerate solutions.

Leadership also builds rapport with crew members through Performance Standard Engagements (PSEs). During PSEs, leadership spends one-on-one time with railroaders in the field to understand their roles and the challenges they face. Each week, leaders walk the tracks and ride trains with railroaders to make them feel more comfortable bringing up issues and concerns in real-time.