After a weeklong installation process in March, the Belt’s new higher-capacity air compressor was fired up for the first time April 6, said Car Foreman Jason Prosser.

While the upgrade will reduce the chance of air failures that could grind productivity to a halt, it also will facilitate the addition of single car air test machines, which are more precise than manual methods. With two of the machines already in use, Prosser said two more are on the way ahead of a FRA mandate that starts this summer.

“We’re being proactive and making a lot of upgrades,” he said. “The industry is moving forward, and we’re keeping up.” 

New LED lights also were added to the RIP track.