​​On March 11, 2025, about 3:03 p.m. local time, a Hulcher Services Inc. employee was seriously injured during a railcar rerailing operation at the Port of Stockton in Stockton, California.[1] At the time of the accident, the injured employee was part of an eight-member crew tasked with re-railing four railcars that had derailed at a switch on Track-840 the day prior. The injured employee was working with a rubber tire loader (loader) to move a previously re-railed car when he was struck and momentarily pinned between the end of the railcar and the loader. (See figure.) The employee was seriously injured, suffering internal injuries. At the time of this report, damage estimates were still being determined. Visibility conditions at the time of the accident were clear, unobstructed, and sunny. The weather was 69°F with no precipitation.

​Before the accident, the Central California Traction Company Railroad—the contract railroad company that performs industrial switching for the Port of Stockton—hired Hulcher Services to re-rail four railcars that had derailed at a switch on Track-840 on March 10, 2025, at about 7:00 pm; the injured employee was one of eight Hulcher Services employees assigned to the task.

At the time of the accident, the injured employee was working with the loader to move a previously re-railed car to the west on Track-840 to make room for the rerailing of the fourth and final derailed car. The injured employee chained the loader to the knuckle of the railcar and signaled for the loader operator to back up leaving about 6 feet between the railcar and the loader. He then stepped between the equipment and operated the quick release lever on the hand brake of the railcar. Upon releasing the hand brake, the railcar began rolling west toward the loader. The injured employee was still between the equipment attempting to engage the hand brake on the railcar as it collided with the loader, striking and pinning the employee between the end of the railcar and the loader. The injured employee was transported to a nearby hospital by emergency services where he was diagnosed with six broken ribs and a collapsed lung; he was released several days later. ​

While on scene, National Transportation Safety Board investigators completed interviews and examined railroad equipment, the rubber tire loader, and Port of Stockton security video footage.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation is ongoing. Future investigative activity will focus on Hulcher Services’ training, written standard operation procedures, and safety documents.

Parties to the investigation include:

• the Federal Railroad Administration, 
• Hulcher Services, 
• Operating Engineers Local 3, and 
• the Central California Traction Company.