People
We value our team members and our communities.
Purpose-Driven Work
BNSF is a place where people work with true purpose, building interesting and meaningful careers and becoming essential parts of one of the best teams in the nation. Day in, day out, we are empowered to use our strengths, our creativity and our experience to move our company – and our country – forward, doing what it takes to move freight safely and efficiently while we drive innovation, seize opportunity and build a stronger and smarter future for us all.
Vision, Values & Leadership
BNSF Vision
Our vision is to realize BNSF’s tremendous potential by providing transportation services that consistently meet our customers’ expectations.
BNSF Values
To live our vision, BNSF team members embrace a set of shared values:
- Listening to customers and doing what it takes to meet their expectations.
- Empowering one another, showing concern for our colleagues’ well-being and respect for their talents and achievements.
- Continuously improving by striving to do the right thing safely and efficiently.
- Celebrating our rich heritage and building on our success as we shape our promising future.
Our ideal success in living our Vision & Values is evident when we fulfill the highest expectations of our four key stakeholder groups:
- Our employees work in a safe and secure environment, are focused on continuous improvement, share in the opportunity for personal and professional growth available to all team members and take pride in their work with BNSF.
- Our customers find it easy to do business with us as they receive damage-free service, accurate and timely information regarding their shipment and the best transportation value.
- Our owners 1) earn financial returns that exceed other railroads and the general market as a result of BNSF’s superior revenue growth and operating ratio, and 2) earn a return on invested capital that is greater than our cost of capital.
- The communities we serve benefit from our sensitivity to their interests and to the environment in general, our adherence to the highest legal and ethical standards and the participation of our company and our employees in community activities.
BNSF Leadership Model
BNSF team members have embraced our leadership model including:
- Create a compelling vision
- Model the way
- Lead more; manage less
- Communicate, communicate, communicate
- Make development a priority
The Enduring Importance of Safety
Team Member Safety
As the leader in railroad safety, BNSF believes every accident or injury is preventable. A safe and secure rail network is vital to our stakeholders and the communities in which we operate and serve. Our vision is to operate free of accidents and injuries and continue to work to make that vision a reality through our safety programs, training and technology.
We will achieve an operation free of accidents and injuries through:
- A culture where safety is a core value and the most important thing we do.
- A work environment that provides resources and tools to eliminate or safeguard all known hazards.
- Work practices and training for all employees that help drive continuous improvement in safety processes, performance and accountability.
- An empowered workforce where employees take responsibility for their personal safety as well as the safety of others and the communities we serve.
Record-Breaking, Industry-Leading Performance
BNSF recorded the safest year in our 177-year history, with employee injury frequency down a full 7 percent from our previous record set in 2023. Additionally, rail equipment incidents decreased 13 percent, exceeding our target and continuing to lead the rail industry.
Training
Safety training for BNSF team members includes formal training programs based on technical rules, rail industry recommendations and federal regulations, as well as BNSF-specific initiatives developed and implemented by our experts. Our multifaceted approach involves a combination of field-, on-the-job-, long-distance- and technical safety training programs.
Internal Recognition
2025 Safety Employees of the Year
Recognizing team members in multiple departments who embody the BNSF commitment to safety.
Engineering
- Matt Oldham, Section Foreman, Red River Division
Mechanical
- Bob Courteau, Safety Assistant, Northtown Mechanical Car Shop
Transportation
- Jakub Szyzdek, Safety Lead - Chicago East, Corwith, Willow Springs Intermodal Hubs
2025 Safety Bell Recipients
Recognizing BNSF teams that achieve the lowest injury-frequency ratios.
Best Overall Safety – Powder River Division, Denver
Best Transportation Team – Powder River Division, Denver
Best Engineering Team – Powder River Division, Denver
Best Mechanical Teams – Northwest Division, Vancouver, WA; California Division, Barstow; Topeka, KS, Diesel Shop; Lincoln, NE, Diesel Shop; Twin Cities Division, Minneapolis, MN (Northtown)
Customer Safety and Security
Customer Recognition
BNSF is committed to keeping our customers’ shipments safe and secure. Recognition of our customers’ shared commitment to safe transportation includes our annual Product Stewardship Award, which honors shippers of hazardous materials with zero non-accident releases. In 2025, 99 customers received this recognition honoring their 2024 efforts.
Security Approach
To promote security, BNSF employs our own fully certified state law enforcement officers who carry full police and arrest powers. BNSF Police conduct proactive, uniformed patrol to protect against trespassing and cargo theft across the network. We work collaboratively with local, state and federal elected officials, customers and citizens to address security threats, enhance preparedness and advocate for legislation that protects the supply chain.
At our intermodal facilities, BNSF deploys site-specific security procedures, processes and physical security. Our robust security protocols and dedicated resource protection team are focused on protecting our network from theft. BNSF has a three-tier strategy for reducing security incidents:
- Prevention: BNSF continues to invest millions of dollars on enhancing security fencing, lighting, surveillance systems and police staffing.
- Effective Enforcement: BNSF Police continue to prevent and disrupt criminals, so our customers’ freight is protected from pickup to delivery.
- Public Policies: BNSF is committed to working with local, state and federal elected officials to enhance public policies influencing the criminal justice system for continued improved outcomes for our customers.
Community Safety
Resources for Responders
BNSF’s rigorous approach to hazmat safety is informed by a framework of prevention, mitigation and response. Resources include a network of 75 BNSF Responders and 38 Advisors trained to deal with all types of hazmat releases and emergency response equipment strategically positioned at 60+ locations across our network.
Resources for responders include:
- Free training for first responders through the Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response (TRANSCAER) program.
- The AskRail App, which gives responders access to real-time data on each rail car in a train and its contents, as well as providing railroad contacts during incidents.
- The bnsfhazmat.com website, which supplies community responders with railroad and hazmat information and tools for training.
Grade Crossings
BNSF has one of the lowest highway-railroad grade crossing collision rates in the rail industry. Continuous efforts to improve safety at grade crossings include community education and awareness campaigns, train crew education and testing, the deployment of new safety technology and crossing closures. BNSF closed its 7,000th crossing in 2025, with 193 crossings closed throughout the year. BNSF’s rate of grade crossing collisions has declined by more than 58 percent per million miles traveled since 1996.
Network Safety
BNSF regularly inspects every aspect of our network, including our locomotives, track, rail and bridges, and we conduct additional weather-event inspections as conditions demand. Our team of trained inspectors utilizes advanced equipment including instrument-equipped rail cars, bridge inspection vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), deploying technology including machine vision systems (MVS), autonomous track measurement systems, ultrasound, ground penetrating radar, cold wheel detectors and high-definition cameras. We also utilize Artificial Intelligence to monitor and analyze all the data our systems and sensors collect. For example, AI algorithms sift through more than 35 million readings from our wayside detectors each day, enabling us to predict maintenance needs in advance. This lowers the likelihood of breakdowns and service interruptions, enhancing fluidity and safety. Our inspections are consistent with federal regulations, and we are committed to timely maintenance, repair and replacement whenever issues or potential issues are detected.
Technology Spotlight: ODIN & THOR
Part of our best-ever safety performance in 2025 included a record-low rate of track-caused rail equipment incidents (REIs), which dropped 33 percent from the previous year. Playing a major role in enabling this reduction were two cutting-edge systems, ODIN (Onboard Defect Identification & Notification) and THOR (Track Health Optical Recognition). ODIN is a track geometry measurement system installed on the underside of locomotives that deploys an array of sensors including angled lasers. In 2025, ODIN measured more than 150,000 miles of track. Mounted under specialized track geometry cars, THOR utilizes high-speed optical cameras to catch thousands of detailed images of the rails at various angles. In 2025, THOR units imaged 165,000 miles of tracks and found 1,900 defects, all of which were addressed before developing into serious problems. Both systems will be utilized more extensively in 2026 and beyond.
Valuing Our Team Members
Total Rewards
BNSF believes in providing competitive total rewards, including compensation, bonus opportunities, investment and retirement packages, health and welfare coverage, holistic wellness and employee assistance programs, career development and paid time-off. Our total reward programs are designed to compensate employees fairly, promote internal equity, reward individual performance and link pay directly with key business strategies and company goals. Our competitive total rewards approach enhances our ability to recruit, retain and engage strong-performing team members.
A Range of Benefits
BNSF offers a range of benefits. Some of the benefits highlighted below apply to both salaried and union employees, dependent upon agreement.
- BNSF-sponsored 401(k) plan company match contribution (match varies per union agreement)
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan – Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) stock
- Railroad Retirement Benefits
- Comprehensive healthcare benefits including a quality provider search tool, telemedicine, prescription drugs, autism care and a Health Savings Account (HSA) with contributions from BNSF
- Quality surgical support, including guidance, travel benefits and co-insurance paid by BNSF
- Cancer support services, including second opinion services
- Voluntary benefits (hospital indemnity, critical illness, accident insurance)
- Family building (fertility, pregnancy, adoption, surrogacy and parental support) support services and financial support
- Menopause and midlife support
- Dependent care and/or daycare assistance programs, including a company match
- Pre-paid legal insurance
- Life insurance
- Short and long term disability
- Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D insurance)
- Wellness programs, including fitness discounts, health coaching, weight loss, tobacco cessation and stretching programs, health vending options, onsite health screenings, vaccinations and blood pressure units
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP), behavioral health services and a broad suite of work, life and financial resources
- Career growth, advancement opportunities and paid training
- Mentoring and recognition programs
- Charity matching gifts through the BNSF Foundation
- Competitive tuition reimbursement program
- Award-winning and inclusive culture with employee-led business resource groups
Employee Development
BNSF team members have opportunities to enhance their skills through best-in-class training including the use of life-size and virtual reality simulators, technical apprenticeships, on-the-job rotations and guidance from industry experts, peers and BNSF leaders. Ways BNSF promotes career development include programs for college hires and first-line supervisors, along with opportunities for formalized feedback and coaching, leadership training, mentoring and tuition reimbursement. Our award-winning People Leader Training (PLT) program began in 2001 and serves all salaried employees. PLT represents our commitment to grow leadership capability and accountability and evolve our culture, while supporting the consistent implementation of our BNSF Leadership Model.
College & Military Recruiting
At BNSF, we have a variety of job opportunities for high school and college graduates, as well as for those who have served in the military. Our recruitment efforts span college campuses, military bases, vocational/technical colleges and high schools, aiming to attract the best qualified talent for trainee and professional roles, software engineers, experienced first-line supervisor positions (Mechanical, Transportation, Engineering), conductor roles, maintenance of way positions and more. We recognize the growing demand for STEM professionals. To ensure we are ready to fill our roles with the best talent, we have increased our engagement with on-campus student groups focused on science and engineering.
We recognize that STEM employment is projected to grow by 8 percent by 2034, which accelerates the demand for STEM talent. To stay ahead of this shift and continue attracting top candidates, we’ve expanded our partnerships with universities, organizations and student groups dedicated to science, technology and engineering. This deeper engagement helps us build strong connections with emerging talent and ensures we’re ready to meet the workforce needs of today and the years ahead.
In 2025, BNSF sponsored our 27th annual Technology Awareness Day (TAD) at our headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, where nearly 170 local high school students from underserved high schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area learned about opportunities for STEM careers from representatives of tech companies and colleges. More than 80 BNSF team members volunteered at the event, joining several tech companies and representatives from multiple colleges to share insights on topics such as job readiness and college financial aid.
Valuing Veterans
BNSF recognizes that military veterans bring invaluable experience, resilience and qualities that strengthen every team they join. Our long-standing commitment to hiring and supporting veterans reflects that belief. Today, nearly one in five BNSF employees has served in the U.S. Armed Forces. We’re also proud to support reservists by providing the flexibility they need for training and deployment. Through our BRAVE (Business Resource and Veterans Engagement) group, veterans, reservists and first responders find opportunities to connect with communities, grow as leaders and develop in their careers.
Building a Culture of Inclusion & Belonging
We believe that creating a culture of belonging and an inclusive workplace leads to a safer, more engaged and highly productive workforce where every employee feels empowered to succeed. As members of the BNSF community, our employees are entitled to:
- Be treated with dignity and respect.
- Have equal access to tools, resources, training and development opportunities.
- Have equal opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Employee Resource Groups
Our employee-led communities, open to all team members, foster collaboration, drive innovation and offer opportunities to help develop creative solutions to business challenges. These employees work together to create a sense of belonging and engagement inside BNSF, provide networking opportunities with leadership and live our values as they serve together in our communities.
Valuing Our Customers and Suppliers
We also recognize the important role our suppliers play in our operations. BNSF sources materials and services from an extensive network of partners, and we strive to acquire high-quality goods and services at the lowest total cost of ownership. We do this by engaging with suppliers resourcefully, efficiently and ethically, fostering strong relationships built on transparency, performance and shared responsibility.
BNSF is committed to the fair and ethical treatment of all our customers and suppliers. We partner with customers to build transportation solutions that lower costs and reduce carbon emissions through greater use of rail in their supply chains.
Collaboration Spotlight: Hobby Lobby & Darigold
- In 2025, in partnership with Hobby Lobby, BNSF opened a 45-acre intermodal facility supporting freight movements from West Coast ports to the company’s distribution centers in Oklahoma City.
- In 2025, Darigold opened a major dairy facility at a BNSF Certified site in Pasco, Washington, with BNSF supplying key construction and operational support.
“We are now prepared to bring the items our customers want directly to Oklahoma City, allowing us to supply our stores in a more efficient manner.”
John Cargill, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Hobby Lobby
“It has been a big positive for Darigold to partner with BNSF throughout both the construction and now operation of our new facility in Pasco.”
Sam Naffziger, Senior Manager, Transportation Optimization, Darigold
Community Engagement & Philanthropy
Through the BNSF Railway Foundation and through the individual generosity of our team members, BNSF looks to make a difference in communities where we serve customers and are privileged to call home.
BNSF Railway Foundation
The primary way BNSF contributes to national, regional and local charitable organizations is through the BNSF Railway Foundation. The Foundation supports causes and programs including:
- Groups that develop America’s next generation, including Boys & Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts, YMCAs, local library programs and community park projects.
- First responder organizations, such as police, sheriff and local fire departments.
- Programs that develop agricultural leaders, such as Texas Future Farmers of America Foundation, Agriculture Future of America and the Peltier Complex.
Special Train Trips
To show our gratitude to our team members, families and communities, every year BNSF runs the Employee Appreciation Special (EAS). This special train built of vintage stainless steel passenger cars visits various parts of our network, offering fun activities and scenic rides. In 2025, the EAS served 7,000 participants with stops in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Idaho, Montana and South Dakota.
Milestones of Community Involvement
Our People Leader Training Program reached a significant milestone in 2025, celebrating 25 years as BNSF’s annual leadership training for people leaders. As part of this special anniversary—and in support of our value of community—participants collaborated with Fort Worth schools, early-childhood learning centers, and Bike for Goodness Sake to deliver more than 1,100 bicycles to local students. We also extended a valued tradition by hosting the 25th annual Special Olympics Regional Cycling Competition at the BNSF Campus in Fort Worth.
