Safety is critically important to the short line and regional railroad industry and ASLRRA’s Annual Safety Awards Program recognizes the contributions and achievements of short line railroads by awarding President’s Safety Awards. In an effort to recognize and bring greater visibility to our safest railroads, ASLRRA’s President's Awards are presented at the Regional Meetings.
ASLRRA's prestigious President’s Safety Awards recognize the outstanding safety records of railroads that have achieved either a 0.0 accident frequency rate, or the best safety rate as measured by the lowest accident frequency rate per person-hour of operation below the industry average. The President’s Safety Award winners in each region are selected based on the previous year’s performance, according to FRA accident / incident reporting data. This year’s award winners were determined based on 2024 FRA data.
| More than 500,000 Person Hours Worked |
Belt Railway Company of Chicago |
| 250,000-500,000 Person Hours Worked |
Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis |
| 150,000 to 250,000 Person Hours Worked |
South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad |
| 50,000 to 150,000 Person Hours Worked |
Burlington Junction Railway |
| Less than 50,000 Person Hours Worked |
Arkansas-Oklahoma Railroad, Inc. |
| More than 500,000 Person Hours Worked |
Consolidated Rail Corporation |
| 250,000 to 500,000 Person Hours Worked |
Union Railroad Company, LLC |
| 150,000-250,000 Person Hours Worked |
Indiana & Ohio Railway Company |
| 50,000 to 150,000 Person Hours Worked |
SMS Rail Service Inc. |
| Less than 50,000 Person Hours Worked |
Rochester & Southern Railroad, Inc. |
| More than 500,000 Person Hours Worked |
N/A |
| 250,000-500,000 Person Hours Worked |
Portland & Western Railroad |
| 150,000 to 250,000 Person Hours Worked |
Clarkdale Arizona Central Railroad, LC |
| 50,000-150,000 Person Hours Worked |
Great Northwest Railroad |
| Less than 50,000 Person Hours Worked |
Southwestern Railroad, Inc. |
| More than 500,000 Person Hours Worked |
Conrad Yelvington Distributors, Inc. |
| 250,000-500,000 Person Hours Worked |
Paducah & Louisville Railway, Inc. |
| 150,000 to 250,000 Person Hours Worked |
Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway |
| 50,000 to 150,000 Person Hours Worked |
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Rwy. Co. |
| Less than 50,000 Person Hours Worked |
Georgia Southwestern Railroad |
'"For short line railroads, there is nothing more important than operating safely. The Jake Award program is an industry bellwether of performance against that goal each year,” said Chuck Baker, President of ASLRRA.
“It is particularly notable that the average industry injury frequency rate, based on FRA-reported performance in 2024, has dropped, making it more difficult to achieve a Jake Award. Yet, 394 of our member railroads have notched a frequency lower than industry average, and of these a record breaking 357 railroads reported zero injuries. Zero is remarkable!"
"These results are a testament to the short line industry’s dedication to ‘Safety First, Every Day,’ and our commitment to investing in technology, infrastructure, and continuous training for employees to be ever-safer."
