Freight rail provides strong community and camaraderie

Val Ochoa

When Val Ochoa retired from the Navy after 21 years as a senior chief in charge of engineering on destroyers and other Navy warships, his family wanted him home. Estimating he'd been away on duty for roughly 70 percent of his military career, his wife and three children said it was family time. Without a college degree, Ochoa worried about what to do next. “I wondered where I would find the same kind of community and camaraderie I'd found in the military,” he says. After five years as owner of a small trucking company, Ochoa knew two things:  he wanted to stay in transportation, and freight rail offered the commitment and community he sought.

Initially hired in 2008 as an operational supervisor trainee, Norfolk Southern (NS) trained Ochoa in all facets of railroad work including mechanical, engineering and transportation. His experience in the trucking industry gave him a leg up, and he was soon promoted to Terminal Trainmaster of the Ashtabula, OH, yard where he is responsible for the safe, efficient and timely operation of NS trains. “I'm the go-to guy if something's not right or my employees have a problem,” says Ochoa, who values his employees above all else. “They are safe, efficient workers, and if I take care of them, they take care of the business.”

Citing the railroad's good pay, secure future and great benefits, Ochoa's plan is to stay with NS for the rest of his career and complete his college degree.  In the meantime, though, he is savoring family time, taking every opportunity to enjoy his kids' softball and soccer games in their hometown of Madison, OH. “There aren't a lot of companies out there that appreciate dedication like Norfolk Southern,” he says. “They're very good at making sure their employees have the right training. The challenge will be finding enough people willing to take on the on-call,” Ochoa says. “If they're willing to devote the time they'll see the long-term benefits.”

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