It seems like the issue is that the safety inspector ISN’T saving them any money by catching issues before they’re fined for them. If they were actually ever held accountable for safety issues, his job would pay for itself.

BNSF is absolutely a gilded age-level corporate villain. But no one is coming after them if Don doesn’t find these issues and that’s a problem too. If the rail safety bureau (or whoever manages rail safety) wants to hire him for the same job, I think BNSF would rethink that position VERY quickly.