Executive Career Paths in the Railroad Industry

• Published in: Transportation journal 1987-12, Vol.27 (2), p.35-40
• Main Author: MENTZER, MARC S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Business structures; Career advancement; Data processing; Datasets; Diversification; Employee promotions; Employment; Exact sciences and technology; Executives; Ground, air and sea transportation, marine construction; Industry; Manycompanies; Profitable firms; Rail industry; Railroad transportation; Railroads; Railway systems; Railway transportation and traffic; Relative profitability; Sales operations; Transportation industry
• ISSN: 0041-1612; 2157-328X

Data from Who's Who in Railroading were analyzed to determine the backgrounds and career paths of railroad executives. Thirteen US Class I railroads and 3 Canadian lines were included in the survey. The 307 executives studied were grouped into 3 categories: 1. those who spent their entire careers with one employer, 2. those who had more than one railroad employer, and 3. those who had more than one employer, with at least one nonrailroad employer. Twenty-seven percent of the group held law degrees, and 20% held masters degrees; both figures were above the averages in a recent study of Fortune 500 executives. Although it was not surprising that executives in line functions were more likely to have followed the classical one-employer career path than those in staff functions, it was surprising that the more profitable railroads tended to promote from within. In addition, railroads which have diversified are less likely to have executives who followed the one-employer career path.