May 24, 2023

MxV Rail – A Resource of Railroad Research, Education, Training and Technology with Kari Gonzales

MxV Rail – A Resource of Railroad Research, Education, Training and Technology with Kari Gonzales
Season 1

Welcome to the American Railroading Podcast! In this episode our host Don Walsh, is joined by guest Kari Gonzales, President and CEO of MxV Rail (formerly TTCI). Together they discuss the Research, Education, Technology and Training, including Firefighter and EMT safety and HAZMAT training, that MxV Rail brings to the railroad industry, as well as the immense amount of data MxV Rail has compiled over 30 years of research. They also discuss the company’s recent transition from TTCI to MxV Rail that Kari has spearheaded, what new technology is on the horizon and the training classes and tours that you can take at their facility in Pueblo, CO. Tune in to this episode now to gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of American Railroading. You can find the episode on the American Railroading Podcast's official website at www.AmericanRailroading.net . So come aboard!

 

KEY POINTS: 

  • Don shares his experience from a recent visit to MxV Rail’s facility in Pueblo, CO., including a tour of their labs, testing areas and first responder safety and HAZMAT training center (SERTC).
  • MxV Rail is a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
  • The AAR is an industry trade group representing primarily all the major freight railroads of North America ( United States, Canada, and Mexico ). Amtrak and some regional commuter railroads are also members.
  • Kari announces previously unreleased “breaking news” on the episode. 
  • The efforts MxV Rail has made to improve safety and reliability in the railroad industry goes back to the 1980’s. 
  • Over 76,000 First Responders have received training from MxV Rail (TTCI) since the inception of their SERTC program in 1986, which includes a FREE training program for those Firefighters and EMT’s who qualify for the NDPC grant.
  • The AAR provides annual funding to MxV Rail to perform research, which for 2023 is estimated at $13.3M.
  • Kari shares her experience as a board member of the League of Railway Women. 
  • MxV Rail has over 1,000 Technology Digests based on 30 years of research data, now available to the public for the first time.
  • Their Facility for Accelerated Service Testing (or FAST) Program achieved a significant milestone in 2021, in its freight rail research program accumulating 5 Billion gross tons of freight train loading.

LINKS MENTIONED: 

https://www.americanrailroading.net/ 

https://therevolutionrailgroup.com/

https://www.mxvrail.com/ 

Kari Gonzales Profile Photo

Kari Gonzales

President & CEO

Kari Gonzales is President & CEO of MxV Rail, the world’s premier rail research advisory. Since taking the role in 2021, Kari has spearheaded the company’s transformation from TTCI to MxV Rail.
Kari has been a part of MxV Rail, a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads since 2000, advancing from a student intern to a research engineer, and then later assuming the role of Vice President and CFO. She leads the MxV Rail team with the advantage of 20 years’ service and experience in the rail industry. She is a mechanical engineer by training, holds an MBA, and was recognized by Progressive Railroading as a “Rising Star.” She was the inaugural candidate for the MxV Rail, Railroad Exchange Program, spending a year at BNSF Railway’s Texas headquarters as a visiting professional. In addition, Kari serves on a number of community and industry boards.