The Safety Professional of the Year is open to any professional safety management employee of an ASLRRA Class II or Class III member railroad who is responsible for safety programs, training and the overall management of safe behavior and actions on their railroad(s). In other words, a safety professional is someone whose job is safety on a full-time basis.
As a leader in safety at Modesto & Empire Traction Company (MET), ASLRRA’s Safety Professional of the Year Matt Carne is known for his hands-on leadership style and proactive approach that encourages trust and open communication. Carne also takes his commitment to safety outside the walls of MET, actively participating in industry initiatives and training with ASLRRA and other organizations.
Carne makes open communication a core part of his management style. In addition to publishing a Rule of the Week and broadcasting safety messages on monitors throughout the workplace, Carne invites feedback during daily job briefings, conducts safety stand-downs when concerns arise and migrates between shifts to maintain a visible presence among employees.
When it comes to transparency, Carne has built a culture of openness where close-call reports are encouraged and discussed to emphasize a proactive approach to safety concerns. Results of regulatory audits are shared and the results covered during shift briefings to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Carne’s approach to safety and leadership is rooted in previous experiences as a teacher and coach.
“Prior to joining the rail industry in 2006, I was a substitute teacher and coached high school football and baseball,” said Carne. “I was actively looking for a high school teaching position when I landed a spot at MET. I had no intention of staying but fell in love with the industry.”
Carne’s efforts inspire trust among MET team members and foster improved engagement and team building, all of which has helped the railroad experience measurable safety achievements. This includes zero regulatory violations across 16 separate inspections in 2025.
Individuals at all levels within MET recognize Carne’s leadership and expertise. Management grants Carne full autonomy to lead safety initiatives, while peers across departments seek his advice on complex safety regulations.
“Matt inspires a unified commitment to safety excellence,” writes MET Vice President of Rail Operations Jared Martin. “His approach brings people together with purpose, clarity, and shared pride in achieving safety milestones. He demonstrates a deep commitment to ensuring a safe working environment for all employees. Matt’s positive attitude, even in the face of difficult safety enforcement, helps foster a culture where safety is embraced rather than resisted.”
As a former teacher, Carne recognizes the importance of education to improving safety. He leads educational initiatives for a variety of participants to bolster safety knowledge at MET and beyond. This includes inviting regulators and the Short Line Safety Institute to provide on-site training to MET employees. He also holds Lunch & Learn sessions with customers; works to provide hazardous materials training to first responders; serves as a key speaker at the Central Valley Chemical Safety Training Day; and organizes Stanislaus Partners In Education (SPIE) railroad safety training for local students. In addition to all of that, Carne is an active member of ASLRRA’s Safety & Training Committee.
“My career change has proven to come full circle, allowing me the opportunity to utilize my degree in teaching along with my passion for coaching,” said Carne.
Matt Carne's love of coaching informs his approach to safety leadership. He also applies his coaching and teaching experience to community-oriented safety endeavors, such as when he organizes and participates in Stanislaus Partners In Education (SPIE) railroad safety training for local students (above).
