Rail Equipment Optimization Lead - Heavy Specialized

Job Description Summary Lead responsibility for optimizing the shipper’s specialized rail equipment and ensuring rail capacity to reliably move heavy, oversized, and project cargo across the North American rail network. Deliver engineering, asset management, operational planning, and commercial negotiation to maximize equipment availability, reduce cost per move, and ensure safe, compliant transport of generators, gas turbines, and other heavy machinery. Job Description Core Responsibilities Equipment Strategy and Lifecycle Management: Define strategy for specialized assets (Multi-axle rail cars, heavy-duty flatcars, bolsters); set replacement, refurbishment. Asset Utilization and Deployment: Match equipment capability to shipment profiles; manage pooling, allocation, and rotation rules to maximize throughput and minimize idle time. Capacity Coordination: Secure train paths, siding access, and terminal slots with Class I and shortline railroads; align equipment availability with booked capacity and contingency plans. Heavy Lift and Route Readiness: Support route surveys, permitting, temporary works, and carrier interface for nonstandard moves. Reliability and Maintenance Programs: Implement preventive and predictive maintenance, condition monitoring, inspection schedules, and root-cause analysis for equipment failures. Technical Standards and Compliance: Maintain load charts, securement standards, certification records; ensure compliance with carrier rules and U.S. federal rail regulations. Vendor and Contract Management: Manage relationships with manufacturers, lessors, maintenance providers, and repair shops; negotiate service agreements, warranties, and spare parts contracts. Ability to manage 4PL RAIL management provider Performance Monitoring and Continuous Improvement: Track utilization, availability, MTBF, maintenance cost per move, and turnaround time; pilot telemetry and predictive analytics to improve uptime. Training and Competency Development: Create and...