Our Team

Class I experience. FRA certification. Family values.

People Who Know the Rails

We came up through Class I railroads. We inspect to the same standard we operated under.

BP

Basil Polivka II

President

    MS

    Michael Small

    VP of Track Inspections and Maintenance

    Michael brings 20 years of experience spanning heavy manufacturing and Class I railroad operations — a combination that gives him an unusually complete picture of what industrial track owners are up against. He understands the production pressures that make downtime costly and the regulatory standards that make shortcuts dangerous. At Doerr Street Rail Co, he leads inspection programs and maintenance oversight with the same discipline he developed on the Class I side of the industry.

    • Class I Railroad Alumni
    • 20 Years Field Experience
    • Heavy Manufacturing Background
    SM

    Senior Inspection Team

    FRA-Certified Field Inspectors

    Our field inspectors are former Class I track supervisors and roadmasters who retired from operations and came to inspection. They know what a railroad track department expects because they wrote those expectations. Each carries FRA Part 213 certification and a minimum of fifteen years of field experience.

    • FRA Part 213 Certified
    • 15+ Years Field Average
    • Class I Track Alumni
    OC

    Operations & Coordination

    Scheduling, Reporting & Client Services

    From the first call to the final sign-off report, our operations team makes sure every project moves efficiently. They coordinate track windows with Class I dispatchers, manage site access logistics, and ensure that written reports are delivered promptly and in a format your team can act on.

    • Railroad Operations Background
    • Report Delivery within 48 Hours
    • Direct Client Communication

    "When I started, the old-timers told me: never write something in a report you wouldn't say to the inspector's face. We carry that forward. Every defect gets documented. Every recommendation gets explained. That's how you build a record worth trusting."

    — Basil Polivka Jr., President

    Collective Credentials

    What our team brings to every project

    FRA Part 213
    Track Safety Standards certification — Classes I through VI
    Roadway Worker Protection
    RWP-compliant procedures on every site
    OSHA 10 / 30
    Safety-first culture on all projects
    Class I Alumni
    CSX, Norfolk Southern, BNSF, and more
    800+ Projects
    Completed across the Southeastern U.S.
    15+ Year Average
    Field experience per inspector

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does FRA Part 213 certification mean for an inspector?
    FRA Part 213 certification means an inspector has completed the training and demonstrated the knowledge required to inspect railroad track against the Federal Railroad Administration's Track Safety Standards. It is the same certification required of railroad employees who walk Class I main lines and branch lines. Not all track inspectors hold current Part 213 certification — ours do, for Classes I through VI.
    What does it mean that your inspectors are "Class I railroad alumni"?
    It means our inspectors spent their careers — typically 15 to 25 years — as track supervisors, roadmasters, and track maintenance managers at major freight railroads like CSX, Norfolk Southern, and BNSF before joining Doerr Street. They know how Class I carriers conduct interchange audits because they conducted them. They know what deficiencies Class I track representatives prioritize because they prioritized them. That institutional knowledge fundamentally changes the quality of an inspection.
    How many inspectors does Doerr Street have available?
    Our team structure allows us to staff multiple simultaneous projects across the Southeast. We do not publish headcount because it fluctuates with project demand — but we have not declined a project due to inspector availability. If you have timing or staffing requirements, discuss them with us when you contact us.
    Does the same team handle both inspection and maintenance work?
    Inspection and maintenance are staffed by the same organization and managed by the same leadership. When an inspection identifies deficiencies and a client chooses to use us for remediation, the transition is direct — the inspectors who found the defects brief the maintenance crew on what needs to be done. There is no hand-off to a separate company or re-learning of the track conditions.
    What safety protocols does your team follow on industrial sites?
    All field personnel follow FRA Roadway Worker Protection (RWP) protocols on every site, along with OSHA 10/30 safety standards. We coordinate with facility safety personnel before entering any industrial site — reviewing site-specific protocols, PPE requirements, and operational constraints. In chemical, hazmat, and other sensitive industrial environments, we work directly with your safety team to ensure our field work meets your facility's requirements.

    Work with a team that's been on your track.

    Request a quote or call us to discuss your inspection needs. We're ready to mobilize.

    Request a Quote (704) 321-0802