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[Anonymous]

I recently read an article that stated that BNSF was using automated crew calling. The crews could call in and get a rough idea of when they would get called to allow them to sort of plan their day. Are other railroads using this or thinking about this?

[mackb4]

The NS has used a Voice Response Unit (VRU) for several years .We can access how we stand out,what time we are rested,what trains are enroute thru codes for each direction,and it even gives a station number where a train is and the time it ran over that stations scanner which in turn can be tracked via.RR computer.It also tells you what time trains are planned at each terminal,and sometimes if a particular train is waiting for power.We can mark back up via VRU but not mark off.We still are called by a real person from the crew managment center located in Atlanta.But no matter what the RR's do,unless you have a regular assigned job with set hours and days,we will never be able to know the exact time we are going to work.There's just too many factors that decides when trains are to be called out of a terminal.

[Anonymous]

here on the u.p. we have a system called a.v.r. and you can do the same as the aforementioned systems....but we can lay off when our boards are "fat" through the a.v.r. we can also look on our web site and check layoffs train lineups etc. And yes we can layoff on the website...but be warned if you click to layoff and click the reason why you will be laid off and c.m.s most likely not mark you back up for an errant key stroke...most road jobs are called by the robot......local and dogcatches by a real person
and sometimes the robot will call you twice or for the wrong terminal!!!