Iowa Central Partners with Industry Experts to Deliver Advanced Rail Safety Training for NEW Cooperative

Iowa Central Business & Community
4/1/2026

Iowa Central Community College, in partnership with an external rail safety organization, Northern Plains Rail Safety, specializing in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)–approved practices, recently coordinated an intensive five-day rail safety and operations training for employees at NEW Cooperative.

Delivered onsite at NEW Cooperative’s rail-served locations, the training brought together experienced rail professionals with decades of field experience. The program focused on reinforcing safe behaviors, proper switching techniques, regulatory compliance, and operational best practices critical to agricultural rail operations.

The training combined classroom instruction with hands-on exercises covering safe rail switching, three-way communication, consistent personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, and identification of track “pointers” to ensure proper locomotive alignment and prevent infrastructure damage.

“Without a doubt, I will forever keep this course in the back of my mind to be safer,” said Lawrence Engelbrecht, NEW Cooperative railyard worker. “I came in not knowing a lot about safe operations, and everything was clearly demonstrated on {incidents} that could happen.”

Bringing in external, FRA-aligned rail safety experts helps ensure employees are trained using current, industry-standard practices rather than relying solely on internal knowledge transfer. “The training will assist in how we train employees moving forward,” said David Hoeppner, Safety & Risk Specialist for NEW Cooperative’s West District/Area 12.

This customized training was made possible in part through Iowa’s 260E Industrial New Jobs Training Program and 260F Iowa Jobs Training Program, which support workforce development by investing in the cost of high-quality, job-specific training. Through these programs, Iowa Central partners with regional employers to strengthen workforce skills, improve efficiencies, and support long-term talent retention.

By investing in external rail safety training and leveraging state workforce development resources, NEW Cooperative reinforced its commitment to employee safety, infrastructure protection, and dependable rail operations. “As a manager, there were multiple tools and procedures offered to keep my team and myself safe,” said Alex Jordan, NEW Cooperative.

This collaboration highlights how partnerships between education, industry, and state programs can advance safer, smarter rail operations while strengthening Iowa’s workforce.

Ready to Strengthen Your Workforce? If your business is looking to upskill employees, improve safety, and build resilience, now is the time to explore Iowa’s 260 programs. 

Contact Iowa Central Community College Economic Development team to learn how customized training can transform your workforce. 

Invest in your team today, because resilience starts with preparation.