Class I Railroads Resist Joining Confidential Safety Reporting System

FRA and unions push for adoption of proven program, but railroads demand concessions that would undermine its effectiveness

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The article argues that the major Class I railroads in the U.S. must join the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), a voluntary program that allows railroad employees to confidentially report unsafe conditions without fear of retaliation. The author, Jared Cassity of the SMART-TD union, states that the railroads have resisted joining C3RS, citing their inability to discipline workers, and have instead pushed for a watered-down version of the program that would not provide the necessary protections for workers to feel safe reporting safety issues. Cassity contrasts this with the success of the similar Aviation Safety Reporting System in the airline industry, which has helped foster a strong safety culture.

Why it matters

The article highlights the tension between the railroad industry's focus on profits and efficiency versus the need for a strong safety culture that prioritizes employee input and reporting of unsafe conditions. Joining C3RS has been shown to significantly improve safety in the aviation industry, but the railroads' resistance to the program's core principles threatens to undermine its effectiveness in the rail sector as well.

The details

The Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) was developed by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in the early 2000s, modeled after the successful Aviation Safety Reporting System used in the airline industry. C3RS allows railroad employees to confidentially report unsafe conditions or close calls without fear of discipline or retaliation. While over 25 railroads have adopted the program, the major Class I railroads have resisted joining, citing their inability to discipline workers. The railroads have pushed the FRA to create a watered-down version of C3RS that would not provide the necessary protections for workers, undermining the program's effectiveness.

  • The FRA began developing a confidential safety reporting program similar to the FAA's Aviation Safety Reporting System in the late 2002/early 2003 timeframe.
  • The C3RS pilot program was launched in 2007, marking the railroad industry's first confidential safety reporting program.
  • In a brief period, two Class I railroads - Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific - agreed to participate in C3RS before later canceling their participation.

The players

Jared Cassity

The national safety and legislative director for the SMART-TD union, who has firsthand experience as a conductor and locomotive engineer.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The agency responsible for regulating air transportation, which recognized the importance of employee participation and input in achieving the safest outcomes.

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

The agency responsible for regulating rail transportation, which has subscribed to the Class I railroads' philosophy of "discipline into compliance" rather than prioritizing training, education, and confidential reporting.

Class I Railroads

The major freight railroad companies in the United States, which have resisted joining the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) due to their desire to maintain the ability to discipline workers.

Norfolk Southern

The railroad company involved in the catastrophic derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023, where long-standing safety complaints went largely unaddressed.

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What they’re saying

“Discipline is not limited to employees involved in incidents: It also extends to employees who report injuries or general unsafe conditions. Not only does this affect the worker but it also has a chilling effect on coworkers who are afraid to do the same.”

— Jared Cassity, National Safety and Legislative Director, SMART-TD Union (trains.com)

“The fact that the FRA has conceded its most successful program ever and allowed it to suffer the fate it fought so long to prevent is a detriment to the railroad industry and the communities it intersects.”

— Jared Cassity, National Safety and Legislative Director, SMART-TD Union (trains.com)

What’s next

The FRA is poised to present labor with a watered-down, take-it-or-leave-it safety program under the C3RS banner without the core principles that give C3RS its strength. The necessary protections for workers are mostly gone, and harassment, intimidation, and excessive discipline will be free to continue.

The takeaway

The railroad industry's resistance to adopting the proven Confidential Close Call Reporting System, which has been successful in improving safety in the aviation industry, highlights the industry's prioritization of profits and efficiency over worker safety and a strong safety culture. This threatens to undermine meaningful progress in addressing long-standing safety issues in the rail sector.