March-April, 1961 - Milwaukee Road Archive

Ten-Point Program Sparks Perfect Shipping Dl'ive
In the current crackdown on loss and damage, on-the-ground claim prevention
meetings such as this at Bensenville Yard are being held wherever
possible on the railroad. Studying a digest of the 10-point perfect shipping
program under the guidance of D. L. Youngs, freight service inspector for
the Chicago Terminals and Terre Haute Division (right), are from left: Engineer
William Harris, Fireman C. J. Galab, Switchmen F. F. Floyd and N,
Loik, and Conductor P. Hallier.
IT has been suggested that the ultimate
in loss and damage prevention would be
a built-in voice box on every piece of
freight that would say to every person
who handles it, "I represent your jobplease
be careful".
Funny) Not when you consider that
freight loss and damage cost the nation's
railroads more than $115 million in
1959, and that the estimate for 1960 is
higher. In an industry that earns less
than 3 per cent on investment, careless
handling at the rate of about $215. a
minute is scarcely a laughing matter.
The point is highlighted in the railroad
industry's annual "perfect shipping"
campaign throughout March and April,
which involves a vigorous attempt by
12
our company's claim prevention department
to provide every employe responsible
for freight handling with a full
understanding of the urgent need to lick
this problem. In cooperation with shipper
advisory boards, the campaign stresses
the following la-point program:
(1) Proper and adequate packaging;
(2) Correct, legible, durable
marking; (3) Complete legible,
accurate bills of lading; (4) Suitable
equipment fur n ish e d for
lading; (5) A P pro v e d loading
methods; (6) Attention to stop-off
cars; (7) Consignee-shipper reporting
on performance; (8) Railroad
handling; (9) Shipper-carrier-re-
Careful handling
by Milwaukee
Road operating
crews and others
was responsible
for the damagefree
shipment of
this U.S. Navy operational
flight
trainer valued at a
half million dollars
from a point i n
Minnesota to a
Texas training
center. It is pictured
at destinat
ion be i n ginspected
by Navy
personnel.
ceiver cooperation; (10) Interesting,
informative, effective training
programs.
Those who deal closely with loss and
damage cite encouragement as well as a
challenge to their efforts in the millions
of shipments handled each year that are
delivered in fine condition. As a result
of improvements being effected constantly
in facilities, equipment, and handling
methods, they point out, even such new
and sensitive commodities as jet engines
and Minuteman missiles get a damagefree
ride. One of the pictures shown
here illustrates how this is presently accomplished
on our railroad.
This piggyback movement originating
on our line consisted of a trailer housing
a U.S. Navy operational flight trainer
valued at more than half a million
dollars. Equipped with better than a
thousand tubes of radio and TV type, it
was highly sensitive to vibration and impact.
Its subsequent delivery at a point
in Texas without a scratch and ready for
service was a typical example of careful
programming and teamwork by operating
crews all along the route, and a source of
pride to the railroad.
R. B. Birchard President of
Milwaukee Traffic Club
AT the annual
me e tin g of the
Milwaukee Traffic
Club in Milwaukee
Feb. 7, our
company's R. B.
Birchard, general
agent in that city,
was elected president
for the year
R. B. Birchard 1961.
R. a y Birchard,
a native of Boscobel, Wis., has been
with the railroad since May, 1920, starting
as a yard clerk in Milwaukee. He
was employed on various positions
there until 1941, when he transferred to
the operating department, serving first
as a car agent in Chicago, and returning
to Milwaukee in August, 1943 as a
special clerk.
In December, 1944 he transferred to
the traffic department as city freight
agent in Milwaukee and on Jan. 1, 1948
became chief clerk of the Milwaukee
traffic office. He was advanced to traveling
freight and passenger agent at
Mason City, Ia., on Mar. 1, 1951, to city
freight agent in Milwaukee the following
July 1, and on Feb. 16, 1952 was appointed
assistant general agent in Chieag-o.
He has been general agent in
:\Iil\\'aukee since Apr. 1, 1953. .
The Milwaukee Road Magazine