Kathy: Hello there Signal readers! I’m Kathy, one of the Signal editors and I’m here with Harley, the voice behind AAR’s brand new Harley Explains video series. So good to be talking with you today, Harley. 

Harley: Hey Kathy, I’m glad to be here. I’ve got my coffee and I’m ready to go!

Kathy: I’m on my second of the day so we are both ready! So, tell me a little bit about yourself.

Harley: Well, today is actually my birthday—October 14^th, the day The Staggers Act of 1980 was signed into law. I’m named after the guy that championed it, Harley Orrin Staggers. And I’m pretty obsessed with freight rail.

Kathy: Well, that is definitely something we have in common, then.

Harley: I mean, it’s kind of crazy to think about. The food you eat. The car you drive. Most of the stuff in your house—it all moved by freight railroads. And it’s all made possible by the fact that freight railroads have the smart policies they need to make the money they need to make the investments into their networks that America needs.

Kathy: Yeah, so tell me more about that.

Harley: Well way back in the 1970s, freight railroads were kind of a mess. And it was because they were so overregulated. The Staggers Act of 1980 partially deregulated the industry, which completely changed the game. Railroads just went crazy investing back into their networks, which created the system we have today. Average rail rates (measured by inflation-adjusted revenue per ton-mile) were 44% lower in 2024 than in 1981. Freight railroads invest about $23 billion a year into their networks and accident and injury rates are at an all-time low.

Kathy: Yeah, and I feel like not everyone knows those facts. I mean, it’s one of the major reasons we do The Signal at AAR—just to make sure folks better understand freight railroads. So, what’s one thing you wish people knew about freight railroads?

Harley: Most people don’t realize how efficient freight railroads are at moving nearly everything our economy depends on. One train can take hundreds of trucks off the road, all while being three to four times more fuel efficient than trucks. I mean, listen, I’m not hating on the trucking industry, but moving more freight by rail is a win for this country. Plus, it’s got this rhythm to it. You can almost feel the logistics hum.

Kathy: You’ve got a poetic way of talking about it. Is that part of what the new Harley Explains video series is all about?

Harley: Yeah, I try to keep it chill and clear. Freight rail isn’t always flashy, but it’s fascinating and undeniably important. I just want folks to understand the facts at a really high level. I don’t want to influence, you know? I just want to inform.

Kathy: So what’s one myth you’d love to bust?

Harley: That rail is outdated. It’s not, man. It’s evolving—with automation, data analytics, even AI. It’s old-school steel but it has new-school smarts.

Kathy: Love that. Ok, before we wrap, where can people find your videos?

Harley: Check out AAR.org/Harley for the first batch we released today. Moving forward, I’ll be sharing more. And you’ll see me hanging around AAR’s social feeds, too.

Kathy: Can’t wait. Harley, thanks for joining us.

Harley: Anytime. Oh, and hey, I heard we’re getting me a cake for my birthday. I can’t wait!