I have been at my new job at the Mass Central for six months now, and looking back over the time, it has definitely been challenging at times, quiet at others, and possibly some of the most rewarding time I have had in my 20+ years in this industry. While any day at a short line is different from the day before, for the most part my job at the Morristown & Erie was the same it had been for 20 years – make sure that the freight went to the right place, and make sure that the customers are happy. There were “extracurricular activities” that made things interesting, but for the most part the job was the same.So what is so different at the Mass Central? First of all, for the first time in my career, I am the boss. While I have been the boss at SDS for 17 years, there is a big difference between bossing yourself around and being responsible for nine other people. There have been times when I have been in a room with the guys, and all of them have looked to me for an answer, and it is at that point that you realize that the answer you give is the answer that they are going to follow, whether it is the best answer or not. You try to give them the best answer that you can, and while your gut is generally right, there are times that you don’t get it right. That is when you own up to your mistake and work with the resources you have to make sure that you don’t make the same mistake a second time.Another difference about being the boss is trying to bring the best out of your employees. Each person has their strengths and weaknesses, and being able to identify the strengths quickly and put them to the best use possible is a huge challenge. All of my guys (and gals) have their moments, but as a whole they all have made my job a lot easier. One of the other things that distinguish my employees is that they all have bought in on what we are doing to grow the railroad. To a person, they want to see the company grow and be successful, and are doing what they can to make it work.For all of the good things, there are a couple of things that I am still dealing with. I still haven’t figured out a good schedule for which weekends I go home and which weekends my family comes up to Massachusetts. The drive home to New Jersey can range from 2 ¾ hours to 6 hours, and when it gets bad, it gets really bad. Finally, I do miss my family during the week. Everyone has done their best to adapt to not having me around, but it is not easy for them, and not for me when I wish I could be there to help.All in all, this has been a very good move for me. I like the job, I like the people, and I like the challenge. The support of my family has been great, and while it isn’t perfect, it is a good start to this next chapter of my career.
--By Steve Friedland
Steve Friedland is a well-known leader in the short line industry who has devoted more than two decades to railroading. At the Morristown & Erie Railway, a 42-mile New Jersey short line, he worked in all areas of the railroad, including track, mechanical, signals, and operations. In 1999, he founded Short Line Data Systems, a provider of railroad EDI and dispatching software, AEI hardware, and management consulting to the short line industry. He currently serves as the ASLRRA representative to the AAR's Wireless Communications Committee and is chairman of the joint AAR-ASLRRA Short Line Information Improvement Committee. He also is a member of the ASLRRA's board of directors.
Steve Friedland is a well-known leader in the short line industry who has devoted more than two decades to railroading. At the Morristown & Erie Railway, a 42-mile New Jersey short line, he worked in all areas of the railroad, including track, mechanical, signals, and operations. In 1999, he founded Short Line Data Systems, a provider of railroad EDI and dispatching software, AEI hardware, and management consulting to the short line industry. He currently serves as the ASLRRA representative to the AAR's Wireless Communications Committee and is chairman of the joint AAR-ASLRRA Short Line Information Improvement Committee. He also is a member of the ASLRRA's board of directors.