Community Guidelines

Effective Date: October 1, 2025 | Last Updated: October 1, 2025

Welcome to FRED

FRED is a private, invite-only community for verified US railroad workers. We're here to support each other, share experiences, and build connections across all crafts and carriers—while maintaining the highest standards of respect, safety, and legal compliance.

These Community Guidelines work alongside our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy to create a safe, productive space for all members.

Our Values

• Respect: Every member deserves dignity and professional courtesy
• Safety: Protecting personal and operational safety is paramount
• Support: We're here to help each other navigate career and life challenges
• Trust: Our invite-only model depends on mutual trust and verification
• Compliance: We respect all laws, regulations, and carrier policies

What's Encouraged

Career and Professional Development

• Sharing career advice and progression tips
• Discussing job opportunities
• Mentorship and skill development
• Networking across crafts and carriers

Work-Life Balance

• Managing schedule challenges and fatigue
• Family and relationship support
• Financial planning and retirement discussions
• Hobby and interest groups for railroaders

Industry Discussions (Non-Proprietary)

• General industry news and trends
• Public safety initiatives and campaigns
• Historical railroad topics and stories
• Technology and innovation in rail (public information only)
• Environmental and sustainability topics
• Collective bargaining updates

Community Support

• Regional meetups and social events
• Peer support and encouragement
• Celebrating achievements and milestones
• Memorial posts for fallen workers
• Community resource sharing

What's Prohibited

Real-Time Operations

• NO real-time operational communications
• NO on-duty coordination through FRED
• NO transmitting instructions that could affect operations
• NO posting about current train movements or delays

Harassment and Discrimination

• Bullying, threats, or intimidation
• Hate speech or discriminatory language
• Sexual harassment or unwanted advances
• Doxing (sharing personal information without consent)
• Targeted harassment campaigns
• Retaliation for reporting violations

Illegal Content

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) - immediately reported to NCMEC
• Threats of violence or harm
• Planning or coordinating illegal activities
• Copyright infringement
• Trade secret misappropriation
• Fraud or scam attempts

Spam and Commercial Activity

• Unsolicited advertising or promotions
• Multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes
• Unauthorized selling or trading
• Repetitive or automated messaging
• Off-topic mass messaging

Misinformation

• False safety information that could cause harm
• Impersonation of carriers, unions, or officials
• Deliberately false operational information
• Conspiracy theories that undermine safety

Other Prohibited Content

• Sexually explicit material
• Graphic violence or gore
• Substance abuse promotion
• Self-harm or suicide promotion (seek help instead: 988 Lifeline)

Reporting and Moderation

How to Report Violations

In-App Reporting:

• Tap the report button (⚠️) on any message, post, or profile
• Select the violation category
• Add details if needed
• Submit report

Email Reports:

• General violations: [email protected]
• Urgent safety issues: [email protected]
• Legal/IP concerns: [email protected]

Our Commitment

Actions We May Take:

• Content removal
• Warning issued
• Temporary suspension (1-30 days)
• Permanent ban
• Report to law enforcement (when required by law)
• Notification to affected parties

Blocking Users

You can block any user to:

• Stop receiving messages from them
• Hide their content from your view
• Prevent them from seeing your posts

Blocking is private—the blocked user is not notified.

Appeals Process

If you believe moderation action was taken in error:

1. Email: [email protected]
2. Include: Your username, date of action, and explanation
3. Timeline: Appeals reviewed within 72 hours
4. Final: Appeal decisions are final after one review

Special Considerations for Railroad Workers

Protected Activities

The following are EXPLICITLY ALLOWED under federal law:

• Discussing wages, hours, and working conditions (NLRA Section 7)
• Union organizing and collective action planning
• Reporting safety concerns to appropriate authorities (FRSA protections)
• Whistleblower disclosures to government agencies

Safety Reporting

If you witness or learn of immediate safety threats:

1. First: Report through proper carrier and/or union channels
2. Always: Follow federal reporting requirements (FRA, OSHA, etc.)

Remember: FRED is not a substitute for official safety reporting channels.

Repeat Offenders

Three-Strike System (except zero-tolerance violations):

1. First violation: Warning + content removal
2. Second violation: 7-day suspension
3. Third violation: Permanent ban

Zero-Tolerance = Immediate Ban:

• Posting carrier proprietary information
• CSAM or trafficking content
• Credible threats of violence
• Severe harassment or doxing

Tips for Positive Participation

Before Posting, Ask Yourself:

• Is this information public or proprietary?
• Could this compromise safety or security?
• Would I be comfortable if my employer saw this?
• Am I respecting others' privacy and dignity?
• Is this helpful to the community?

Best Practices:

• Verify before sharing: Ensure information is accurate and public
• Protect identities: Don't name individuals without permission
• Stay professional: Disagreement is fine, disrespect is not
• Think long-term: Posts may be preserved for legal reasons
• Support each other: We're all in this together

Transparency and Accountability

Transparency Reports

We publish annual transparency reports including:

• Number of reports received
• Actions taken
• Law enforcement requests
• Major policy changes

Community Feedback

We welcome feedback on these guidelines:

• Email: [email protected]
• In-app: Settings > Send Feedback
• Community polls and surveys

Integration with Legal Policies

These Community Guidelines work with:

• Terms of Use - Legal agreement
• Privacy Policy - Data handling

Changes to Guidelines

We may update these guidelines as our community grows. We'll notify you of material changes via:

• In-app notifications
• Email to registered addresses
• Announcement posts

Contact Us