Two Class Is, transit authority among Forbes' 'Best Employers for Women'

Six rail industry constituents — including two Class Is — have made Forbes’ 2026 list of America’s Best Employers for Women. 

Developed by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the annual ranking recognizes employers that provide strong workplace experiences for women. The 2026 list is based primarily on survey feedback from more than 146,000 women working at U.S. companies with at least 1,000 employees. The list features the 700 highest-scoring companies nationwide. 

The 2026 list includes Schneider at No. 279; Norfolk Southern Railway at 411; CSX at 440; the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York at 487; United Parcel Service at 533; and FedEx at 667. 

Survey participants evaluated employers based on such factors as career development, parental leave and related benefits, work-life balance, competitive pay, pay equity and employee relations practices. The ranking also considers the representation of women in executive and board-level roles. 

For CSX, the Forbes recognition reflects the culture its railroaders help build every day that's focused on safety, teamwork and supporting employees as they grow their careers, CSX officials said in a press release. The Class I strives to create a workplace where employees feel valued, supported and positioned for success, they said. 

“Supporting employees’ total well-being means providing resources and programs that help them care for themselves and their families — physically, financially, emotionally and socially,” said Michelle Mullen, CSX's vice president of Total Rewards.