Chicago Shippers Honored for Safety

Leaders from Chicago Fire, Chicago Police and Chicago’s 10th Ward joined officials from OmniTRAX to recognize rail shippers’ safety milestones on the Chicago Rail Link line. (OmniTRAX Photograph)

Chicago Rail Link (CRL), a managed affiliate of OmniTRAX, presented donations to the Chicago Fire Department’s Gold Badge Society and Chicago Community Policing Office 4th District CAPS in honor of four shippers that demonstrate a commitment to safety.

The four shippers—AOS, Befesa Zinc, BP North America, and Heniff Transportation Systems—were CRL’s recipients of the 2022 OmniTRAX Safe Shipper Award. To earn the award, companies must model “exemplary rail safety by shipping or receiving loaded cars with no accidental releases during the previous year,” according to Denver, Colo.-based OmniTRAX, the transportation affiliate of The Broe Group.

“The safety of our team, our customers and the communities we serve is our top priority, and the OmniTRAX annual Safe Shipper Awards recognize the spotless safety records of customers that share our relentless commitment to shipping safety,” OmniTRAX President and Chief Operating Officer Sergio Sabatini said. “We are honored to commemorate the 2022 Safe Shipper recipients with donations to Chicago fire and police organizations that keep South Chicago safe.”

CRL provides switching and terminal services over 72 miles of track in South Chicago, including service to the Port of Chicago and Metra trackage switching to Blue Island yard. Officials on June 14 delivered $1,000 contributions on behalf of each award recipient to the Chicago Fire Department’s Gold Badge Society and Chicago Community Policing Office 4th District CAPS.

“The Chicago Fire Department is committed to keeping South Chicago safe and we salute OmniTRAX, Chicago Rail Link and the 2022 Safe Shipper recipients for their commitment to safety and this generous donation,” Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said.

“Just like shipping safety, community safety is a shared commitment as well,” said Commander Keith Milmine, Chicago Community Policing Office 4th District CAPS. “The Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy is a true community partnership and today’s [June 14] donation provides essential funding to help us continue to serve South Chicago. We are thankful for the support.”

Added Chicago 10th Ward Alderman Peter Chico: “The Port of Chicago and our commercial district are very important to South Chicago, and we are grateful to Chicago Rail Link and our business partners for investing in our community and maintaining safe operations.”

Separately, OmniTRAX affiliate Panhandle Northern Railway and the Short Line Safety Institute recently held a two-day railroad emergency response training in Borger, Tex., that combined a classroom-based emergency preparedness, reporting and response exercise with a simulated drill for first responders and railroad staff.