Building Confidence Across Every Bridge
Bridge engineering, inspection, and data-driven asset management solutions that help freight railways operate safely, efficiently, and reliably.
ARE is a leading engineering and environmental services firm dedicated to the unique infrastructure needs of North American freight railways. From bridge inspections and structural engineering to asset management and advanced data solutions, our multidisciplinary team delivers practical, innovative solutions that prioritize safety, regulatory compliance, and long-term performance. With decades of industry experience and a commitment to technical excellence, we help our clients protect critical infrastructure and make confident decisions for the future.
Affiliations
Our History
American Rail Consultants Founded
Founded by Dave Anderson, PE, and Angel Lucero (95% shareholders), American Rail Consultants specialized in rail bridge inspections and reporting services for short-line railroads.
American Rail Engineers formed
Founded by Dave Anderson, PE, and Angel Lucero, American Rail Engineers (ARE) acquired the bridge inspection division of American Rail Consultants and secured an agreement with Watco short-line railroad. Within three years, ARE expanded to manage more than 3,500 bridges and inspect over 18,000 bridge spans annually.
Media Wing Acquires AirShark
Media Wing acquired AirShark, expanding from video production into UAS data collection and processing. Operating as AirShark, the company provided infrastructure inspections, environmental mapping, data processing, and aerial imaging services for engineering firms.
Rebranding & Software Demonstration
ARE and AirShark launched a unified brand identity and introduced the first of four client demonstrations for their proprietary rail bridge inspection software. Client feedback during the development phase helped refine the platform ahead of its official release.
FAA Operations Over People Waiver Awarded
ARE-AirShark received an FAA waiver authorizing certified remote pilots to operate parachute-equipped small unmanned aircraft over people. The company became one of only nine organizations nationwide approved for these operations using the ParaZero SafeAir system.
Structures Capital Spend Model
Completed initial modeling and testing of risk assessment tool evaluating bridge data to inform capital spending priorities for thousands of bridges.
Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant Program.
The Federal Railroad Administration announces $2.4B in CRISI grant funding for a variety of rail projects across 41 states. ARE is honored to be providing engineering and environmental support to several short line projects.
AirShark was formed
AirShark became the first company in Vermont to receive an FAA Section 333 exemption for commercial drone operations. Using custom-built UAVs, the team delivered infrastructure inspections and mapping services for utility companies and engineering firms.
Media Wing LLC Founded
Founded by Fred Depuy, Media Wing provided full-service video production and aerial videography for businesses. The team's creative work appeared in national advertising campaigns, on the Disney Channel, and across a variety of commercial productions.
ARE Acquires Media Wing & AirShark
ARE acquired Media Wing and AirShark, expanding beyond traditional bridge inspections and engineering services. The acquisition integrated UAV technology into safety management, data analytics, inspection deliverables, and software-driven workflows.
Internal Software Launch
ARE deployed its proprietary bridge inspection software across internal operations, streamlining inspections, improving data management, and accelerating report delivery for clients.
First-Ever Utility BVLOS Waiver Awarded
ARE received the first FAA BVLOS waiver for utility line inspections. This milestone advanced safe BVLOS operations and showed the potential for large-scale drone inspections.
Launched Environmental Services
ARE launched a division devoted to providing environmental support for railroad improvement projects. Services include permitting needs assessment, categorical exclusion worksheets, and managing compliance especially for grant-funded projects.
Continued Growth
ARE continues to focus on providing critical bridge engineering and environmental services to the short line community.
Careers
Join the team Empowering Ingenuity
Join a team driven by innovation, precision, and real-world impact. At ARE, we’re building more than solutions—we’re building a team of forward-thinkers driven by curiosity and expertise. Work alongside skilled professionals to solve complex technical challenges and deliver measurable results.