This week on The Switch Point, Joe sits down with longtime friend and newly appointed Director of Operations, Mike Thomason, for one of the most unfiltered episodes yet.

From near misses and derailments to stubborn old-head railroaders and absolute chaos in the field, the two swap stories from years spent working in rail operations, training crews, and dealing with the reality of transload safety culture.

This episode dives into:

• The dangerous habits railroaders develop over time
• Why bad training creates bigger problems down the road
• Near-miss stories that still stick with them today
• The chaos of radio communication during switching operations
• Why transload rail operations are becoming the “new face” of railroading
• The disconnect between ownership, management, and safety in the field
• What separates experienced railroaders from people just “playing railroad”

But it’s not all serious—Joe and Mike also get into office Nerf wars, Texas vs. Midwest culture, road trip playlists, conference season chaos, and what it’s like bringing military-style camaraderie into the rail industry.

This one is raw, hilarious, brutally honest, and packed with the kind of stories only railroaders can tell.

Welcome back to The Switch Point.

This week on The Switch Point, Joe is joined by producer Tom for an in-depth conversation on one of the most overlooked—but most critical—parts of the rail industry: track inspections.

From safety risks and regulatory compliance to preventing derailments and protecting operations, this episode breaks down why proper track inspections are essential for any facility handling rail traffic. Joe shares real-world insight into what inspectors look for, the common defects that get missed, and how neglected infrastructure can create massive operational and financial consequences.

Inside this episode:

• Why track inspections are crucial for safety and uptime
• The most common issues found during inspections
• How weather, seasons, and vegetation impact rail infrastructure
• Why qualified inspectors matter more than “just checking the track”
• How proactive maintenance saves companies from six-figure problems later
• What separates Axiom Rail Services from competitors in the industry

Whether you work in rail, logistics, manufacturing, or simply want to understand how freight keeps moving across America, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the infrastructure most people never think about.

Because when the track fails, everything stops.

This week on The Switch Point, things get a little less formal—and a lot more Off the Rails.

Joe is joined by Mike (HR), Vegas (Marketing), and Tom (Producer) for a behind-the-scenes look at what actually goes on inside Axiom Rail Services. From hiring challenges and rapid growth to office banter, Nerf gun wars, and unfiltered team dynamics, this episode pulls back the curtain on the people driving the mission forward.

The team dives into:

• What it really takes to build (and protect) company culture
• The balancing act of hiring fast vs. hiring right
• Why energy, personality, and fit matter just as much as experience
• The chaos of scaling a growing business in real time
• Honest takes on workplace trends, communication, and leadership

Plus, you’ll hear stories from job fairs, inside jokes from the office, and a glimpse into how Axiom is working to become a destination workplace—not just another job.

It’s candid, it’s unfiltered, and it’s exactly what happens when you put the whole team in one room.

Welcome to the other side of the business.

In the debut episode of The Switch Point Podcast, we sit down with Axiom Rail Services President Joe Porro to unpack the real story behind the company—and the rail industry most people never see.

From building a business through grit, setbacks, and a post-COVID reset, to redefining what employee-first training looks like in one of the most dangerous and overlooked sectors of the economy, Joe shares how Axiom is tackling the biggest gaps in rail: safety, compliance, and culture.

This conversation dives deep into:

• The hidden world of freight and transload rail operations
• Why hands-on training is non-negotiable in this industry
• The massive knowledge gap between major railroads and smaller operators
• How poor communication and outdated training put lives at risk
• What it really takes to build a company that cares—about people, not just profits

Joe also lays out his vision for the future: scaling Axiom nationwide, reshaping workforce development, and ushering in the next generation of railroaders the right way.

If you’ve ever wondered how the goods that power our economy actually move—or what it takes to keep that system running safely—this episode is your inside look.

This is where rail meets reality. This is The Switch Point.

The Switch Point is where the rail industry’s biggest conversations collide.

Hosted by Axiom Rail Services, this podcast brings serious energy to the world of ethics, auditing, and real-world rail operations, with a sharp focus on transload rail. Every episode puts you in the room with railroad experts, regulators, supply chain analysts, and railcar manufacturing executives who are shaping the future of the industry right now.

This is not surface-level talk. We dig into compliance, safety, accountability, and the tough decisions that keep freight moving. We challenge outdated thinking, question the gray areas, and push for higher standards across the board.

And then there is Off the Rails.

These episodes are raw, unfiltered, and built by the Axiom community. We bring guests on to vent, debate, joke around, and say what everyone else is thinking but will not say out loud. We open the phone lines, take live questions, and let the conversation go wherever it leads.

Whether you are on the ground, behind a desk, or running operations, The Switch Point is your place for honest insight, real accountability, and the kind of conversations this industry has been missing.