Rail Division Director
Don Franks serves as director of Rail.
Franks brings over 35 years of strategic planning and executive leadership experience in the rail industry. His previous experience includes twelve years of executive leadership with Hulcher Professional Services. As Vice President of Operations, Franks led the strategic and day-to-day operations of 34 divisions across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, ensuring adherence to FRA and OSHA regulations. He oversaw a multi-million-dollar suite of businesses, managing full P&L responsibilities to drive safety, efficiency, compliance, and profitability. Franks was also responsible for managing a large fleet of heavy equipment and led over 500 union and non-union employees. He had direct oversight of safety, roadway worker compliance, train derailment restoration, track construction and repair, grade crossing re-planking projects, and railroad right-of-way maintenance.
Prior to Hulcher, Franks spent over twenty years leading high-performing rail industry plant operations. His tenure at Trinity Industries includes various leadership roles. Starting as a Production Supervisor, he managed railcar manufacturing and a team of 70-100 employees, ensuring quality and timely completion. As General Foreman, he oversaw manufacturing operations for freight cars at both the Greenville and Monclova, Mexico, plants. Later, as Plant Manager, he managed train and concrete mixer facilities.
Franks went on to Progress Rail where he was a General Manager of Operations and a Plant Manager. At Progress Rail Intermodal, Franks oversaw 22 facilities, ensuring adherence to FRA and AAR standards for train yard inspections and repairs. He developed business models, secured new business opportunities, and received awards for teamwork and safety, doubling the size of his group and greatly improving safety and financial performance. At Progress Rail’s Raceland Car Shop, he led the operations of a newly established railcar manufacturing and heavy car repair/paint facility, managing diverse railcar and locomotive build and refurbishing programs.
As TxDOT’s Safety Section Director, Franks has led the division’s rail and transit safety and compliance program, overseeing policy development, regulatory enforcement, and stakeholder coordination to enhance rail and transit safety across Texas. He has worked with federal agencies, railroads, and transit organizations to ensure compliance with state and federal safety standards while managing risk assessments, safety data analysis, and program funding. Additionally, he has provided technical expertise on rail safety regulations, guided legislative initiatives, and has overseen investigations into derailments and safety incidents. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing the state’s rail safety initiatives and ensuring the effectiveness of oversight programs.
