Members of the advanced customer support team recently spent a day learning how Stucki parts play a vital role at the Belt Railway Company’s intermediate switching terminal in Chicago.

“Seeing the swarm of activity at the terminal heightened our team’s awareness of locomotive and freight car product functions, including what they are, where they go, how they work and how many of each are on a single car,” said STEVE DOBIES, senior vice president of technical service, sales and field service.

Chicago is the largest railroad hub in North America and Belt Railway is the largest intermediate switching terminal in the U.S., connecting every major rail line and enabling them to sort, classify and exchange freight cars.

“The BRC is owned jointly by all the major Class I railroads and is an interchange point for trains running east and west or north and south,” said Steve.

The facility, which dates back to 1882, comprises more than 300 miles of track on almost 800 acres. Between 7,000 and 8,000 railcars are processed through the yard every 24 hours.

Every car that passes through the terminal is inspected according to safety rules and regulations established by the American Association of Railroads.

“If there is an AAR-classified defect of any kind, it has to be repaired before a car can leave the yard,” said Steve.

Repairs are made using parts inventoried at the facility. BRC’s inventory includes Stucki wheels, axles, couplers, locks, brake beams, side bearings, turbochargers, draft gears, springs, motor support bearings and more.

“It was raining Stucki products everywhere, which was eye-opening for our team to see,” said Steve.

Customer support personnel observed how the BRC functions and the critical role Stucki products play in its operation.

“Normally, they’re in their offices, completing routine functions like generating customer quotes, entering orders, invoicing, facilitating deliveries and developing spreadsheets and reports,” said Steve.

“This visit provided a hands-on, real-world demonstration of how vital their jobs are and the importance of maintaining timely and accurate deliveries for our customers.”

TED KERNN, key account manager, MARILENA MOORBY, customer success advocate manager and STEPHANIE ARRIGO, customer service manager, helped facilitate the training sessions and coordinate employee access and needs for the visit.

Other Stucki participants were BILLY AUSEC, BRENDA CHAMBLISS, JESSICA CLARK, ADRIANA CONTRERAS, HEIDI DESMARIAIS, MELANIE GLOWACKI, AMANDA McCARTY, HAYLEY McEVERS, ALEXANDRIA O’CONNOR, SAMANTHA PAYNE, BRISEYDA SANTACRUZ, LINDA SCHERER, ANDREA TELLEZ and ALLISON WIKTOR.

Participants received certificates of attendance, which are archived in Stucki’s quality records for AAR audit purposes.

Members of the advanced customer support team recently spent a day learning how Stucki parts play a vital role at the Belt Railway Company’s intermediate switching terminal in Chicago.

“Seeing the swarm of activity at the terminal heightened our team’s awareness of locomotive and freight car product functions, including what they are, where they go, how they work and how many of each are on a single car,” said STEVE DOBIES, senior vice president of technical service, sales and field service.

Chicago is the largest railroad hub in North America and Belt Railway is the largest intermediate switching terminal in the U.S., connecting every major rail line and enabling them to sort, classify and exchange freight cars.

“The BRC is owned jointly by all the major Class I railroads and is an interchange point for trains running east and west or north and south,” said Steve.

The facility, which dates back to 1882, comprises more than 300 miles of track on almost 800 acres. Between 7,000 and 8,000 railcars are processed through the yard every 24 hours.

Every car that passes through the terminal is inspected according to safety rules and regulations established by the American Association of Railroads.

“If there is an AAR-classified defect of any kind, it has to be repaired before a car can leave the yard,” said Steve.

Repairs are made using parts inventoried at the facility. BRC’s inventory includes Stucki wheels, axles, couplers, locks, brake beams, side bearings, turbochargers, draft gears, springs, motor support bearings and more.

“It was raining Stucki products everywhere, which was eye-opening for our team to see,” said Steve.

Customer support personnel observed how the BRC functions and the critical role Stucki products play in its operation.

“Normally, they’re in their offices, completing routine functions like generating customer quotes, entering orders, invoicing, facilitating deliveries and developing spreadsheets and reports,” said Steve.

“This visit provided a hands-on, real-world demonstration of how vital their jobs are and the importance of maintaining timely and accurate deliveries for our customers.”

TED KERNN, key account manager, MARILENA MOORBY, customer success advocate manager and STEPHANIE ARRIGO, customer service manager, helped facilitate the training sessions and coordinate employee access and needs for the visit.

Other Stucki participants were BILLY AUSEC, BRENDA CHAMBLISS, JESSICA CLARK, ADRIANA CONTRERAS, HEIDI DESMARIAIS, MELANIE GLOWACKI, AMANDA McCARTY, HAYLEY McEVERS, ALEXANDRIA O’CONNOR, SAMANTHA PAYNE, BRISEYDA SANTACRUZ, LINDA SCHERER, ANDREA TELLEZ and ALLISON WIKTOR.

Participants received certificates of attendance, which are archived in Stucki’s quality records for AAR audit purposes.