AAR salutes veterans for helping rail move nation’s economy

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) joins the nation Nov. 11, 2015 in saluting the contributions of the country's military veterans.

“America’s railroads are honored to employ those who have bravely served our nation and welcome them into careers that provide a transition from the armed forces,” said AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger. “Military service provides veterans with a unique skill set that readily transfers to a variety of opportunities in railroading.”

The nation’s major freight railroads have been committed to hiring men and women with military experience for almost two centuries, AAR says. Currently, the industry employs thousands of veterans and nearly one in five of the industry’s new hires will have served in the U.S. military.

U.S. freight railroads are not only committed to hiring veterans but also to moving the goods used by the armed forces, which rely on flexible, efficient and responsive freight rail transportation. Each year, thousands of tons of military supplies and products move on the nation’s 140,000-mile rail network.

“Everything from Humvees and personnel carriers to tanks and tank parts are transported across the country between military bases or to a port for overseas deployment by freight rail,” Hamberger said. “The successful delivery of each of these products is essential to ensuring that our military can perform its daily duties.”

Since 2012, the AAR has collaborated with freight and passenger railroads, rail supply companies and agencies including the Department of Transportation and the Department of Defense to participate in the White House Joining Forces initiative, a nationwide effort to recognize, honor and support America’s veterans and military families.