Holiday Operations: Safety, Service, and Savings

Sean Ireland

Good morning, team—and happy holidays to everyone out there listening. I hope you’re squeezing in some quality time with family and friends, or, if you're among those on vacation this week. For the rest of us holding down the fort, you already know this is one of our most demanding stretches each year. And this holiday season, safety is top of mind...maybe even more than usual, if that's possible.

Sean Ireland

This week, we’re increasing our focus on job safety briefings—there’s just no letting up, especially now. Operational testing is ramped up too. You’ve heard me harp on Tests 7, 4, and 14, right? That’s riding equipment, shove and securement tests, and those all-important switch tag checks. Every single shift, every day. That’s four operational tests, locked in for consistency. And, assistant superintendents, you’re on the hook for one securement test per shift as well.

Sean Ireland

Now, here’s what I’m seeing out there—lots of folks jumping in on assignments that aren’t their normal gigs. Which, you know, is always a little risky. Seasonal swaps and less experienced staff do mean a higher bar for vigilance. And if you toss in freeze and thaw conditions, well, things get slippery quick. I keep going back to that incident in the Southwest Region last weekend...cars left in the foul. Tragic. I always say: learn from the other guy’s pain before it becomes your own. So, please, let's keep that top of mind—cars in the clear and always double-check for potential fouls, especially on dark mornings or icy nights.

Sean Ireland

I also want to take a second and give a special shout-out to our safety leaders driving the effort across each zone. Andrew Scheipers up in New England, Arthur King for the Northern Zone, Thomas Schuler at Selkirk, Cory Warren in Central East, Alex Malcolm handling Central West, and Samuel Fish covering Southern. These folks are leading the charge with a blended approach: getting quality job safety briefings, exposure reduction discussions, and real engagement on daily testing. Thanks, all—you’re making a real difference out there.

Sean Ireland

Let’s shift gears and talk network planning—because it wouldn’t be a CSX holiday if we didn’t have moving targets everywhere, right? So here’s what’s in motion: from noon on December 24th to noon on the 26th, the network’s slowing down. We’re cutting back on crews, putting some jobs on hold. No third shift yard on the 24th, no first on Christmas morning, and the second on the 25th’s cancelled too, except for a few select spots. Intermodal and a handful of manifest trains stay on—those wheels don’t stop—but otherwise, a planned slowdown.

Sean Ireland

Peak UPS season, by the way, is just...well it’s relentless. UPS trains cut right to the front of the line, that’s just the reality. But I want to emphasize—missed switches can happen, especially with the weather we get in the northeast. And when we do have issues or anticipate delays, our customer communication is everything. Too many missed switches—especially back to back—can turn a tough week into a lost customer, fast.

Sean Ireland

Planning’s only as good as communication. If you don’t tell folks what’s possible, someone ends up disappointed, every time.

Sean Ireland

So as we’re closing out our Peak Season UPS program and looking at holiday schedules, prioritize that communication and keep those relationships healthy.

Sean Ireland

Alright, now let’s talk dollars and policy before I let you get back at it. With holiday volumes, it’s all too easy to let spending creep up, especially on overtime. So, this year, we’ve stepped up cost controls—like, you probably got the memo—now, every purchase through the one card system has to have a detailed receipt attached. That started on December 17th, and it’s nonnegotiable. I know, I know, it’s a hassle, but it’s about accountability and making sure every dollar has a reason behind it.

Sean Ireland

Same deal with company vehicles—there’s been some chatter about usage, so please make sure you’re within policy guidelines there too. During these holidays, we’re also using more annulments and tighter controls on crew assignments to keep labor spending balanced with what the network actually needs. One of the biggest traps this time of year is letting overtime or unscheduled shifts quietly add up, and next thing you know, your budget’s blown by January 1. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen—savings made before the holidays are quickly erased if we slack off now.

Sean Ireland

And you know, tying it all together…effective cost management isn’t just some backend accounting thing. It impacts everything—operational health, service, trust with our stakeholders. When we control costs, we can reinvest in people, process, and tech, and everyone benefits.

Sean Ireland

Alright, that’s plenty from me for today. Thanks for stepping up this week, for your attention to every detail, and for making our region a leader, not just in the network, but across the company. Have a great holiday, stay safe, and let’s finish this year strong. More to come as we head into 2026, so be sure to check back next week. Take care.