Hard work and dedication pay off in the military and in freight rail
Eloy Sanchez
Superintendent
Kansas City Southern
Shreveport, LA
14 years in the industry
5 years in the military
Base: Fort Carson, CO
As a “military brat” and son of a Texas Mexican Railway railroad man, Eloy Sanchez has learned from the best while following in his father's footsteps. Enlisting in the army in 1991 after high school, Sanchez, a former military policeman who says he's honored to be a veteran, served five years before seeking his dad's advice on a long-term career. Opportunity, Sanchez's dad suggested, could be found working for railroads. And opportunity, exactly what Sanchez sought, turned out to be his for the taking.
“The fact that I had a military background opened up the door for me,” says Sanchez. “The military taught me discipline, life skills and how to overcome challenges. It more than prepared me for anything I've tackled for the railroads.” Sanchez began his 14-year career with Kansas City Southern (KCS) as a conductor, then became a locomotive engineer and an assistant trainmaster. Today, as superintendent of KCS's biggest hub in Shreveport, LA, Sanchez is able to see the whole freight rail system, and all its smaller components, in a culture he finds much like the military. “We're focused on having a safe work environment and delivering quality service to our customers. One similarity I've seen between the military and freight rail is that in both, hard work and dedication pay off,” he says. “This is such a dynamic industry, it is 24/7, 365 days, it does not stop, just like the military.”
Highly appreciative of his wife, children, parents and in-laws who've supported his demanding career, Sanchez has learned to adapt to the relocation demands of his work and is always poised for the next chapter in his career. “It's part of the freight rail culture,” he says, “and much like the lifestyle of military families. Keeping a positive attitude about the next opportunity is something my family and I thrive on.”