Train crew transportation

[Expresslane]

 

  I saw something about a company that hauls train crews to where they are needed. Are these vans and drivers part of the railroad or a contractor? Heard on called "armadillo". Is there one company that hauls for lets say the Union Pacific or many different ones for a railroad that big?  I know from my short time on the CNW they use one cab company for their needs around the Chicago area. Can anyone give me more info?  Thanks.

[BaltACD]

Most crew transportation is done by contracted carriage.  One contractor that provides service (and service is used with great reservation) to both CSX and NS is Professional Transportation Inc. (PTI) that is headquartered in Evansville, IN. 

[wabash1]

 

  I saw something about a company that hauls train crews to where they are needed. Are these vans and drivers part of the railroad or a contractor? Heard on called "armadillo". Is there one company that hauls for lets say the Union Pacific or many different ones for a railroad that big?  I know from my short time on the CNW they use one cab company for their needs around the Chicago area. Can anyone give me more info?  Thanks.

Yes there is more than 1 cab company and they haul for all the carriers. the class of driver is just 1 step higher than a drunk. some can just see the dash and others just over the dash.  on are trips to the motel we are 60 % driving on the shoulder ( either side) the other 30% we are in are lane ( or the one they drifted to ) that leaves 10% I cant tell you what is going on at that time or can the others as this is the time we are changing are shorts.  this is why we have had are off property insurance increased, and someone says that the ns uses a cab called PTI what terminals do they service

[Anonymous]

I've always thought they get those drivers from some kind of work release program. 98% should not be on the road. No matter how long I have been up and working, I could never muster up the nerve to go to sleep with some of these jokers at the wheel. Most had been up just as long as us so we had to stay awake to keep them up. I know some crew members who have actually had to drive theirself so the driver could sleep, but you didn't hear that from me. Correct me if I'm wrong but I beleive CSX uses PTI exclusively unless there is a driver shortage.

[J. Edgar]

if riding in a PTI van is scary.... and ive riden a few over the years....try this....many PTI drivers in Mi end up getting hired into train service.....i was hired by CSX in 97 out of Grand Rapids and there was 2 others in my class.....they both were PTI drivers.....and it took them 2 4 weeks longer to get set up.....even with cell phones maps and a CSX radio PTI drivers still get lost.....but realy its not as bad as riding in a regular taxi....ive rejected taxi cabs on account of unsafe cars or drivers....doesnt make the DSPR or TM's happy but hey.....safety first.....the other side of it is that there are a few safe responsible drivers on their payroll.......as well as some hotties

[J. Edgar]

I've always thought they get those drivers from some kind of work release program. 98% should not be on the road. No matter how long I have been up and working, I could never muster up the nerve to go to sleep with some of these jokers at the wheel. Most had been up just as long as us so we had to stay awake to keep them up. I know some crew members who have actually had to drive theirself so the driver could sleep, but you didn't hear that from me. Correct me if I'm wrong but I beleive CSX uses PTI exclusively unless there is a driver shortage.

 atleast on the Detroit service lane yes its PTI....and they admit theyre....overworked underpaid and driving with minimal rest....sometimes it beats 36+ hours in the away term

[ericsp]

Around here both UP and BNSF use Renzenberger. BNSF used Milepost for a while.

[Namerifrats]

I work for NS in North Carolina. We had Cimmaron Coach and now we have PTI. The drivers are terrible. Always late, running off the road, or always turned around in our business worrying about what the crew is talking about more than driving the van. They are also bad for bumming money off the crews. I don't give them anything personally but I know of a couple of other crew members that have gave them money or bought them food. Hell, one even pulled a gun on a crew because they wanted to stop for something to eat, he got fired at the end of that run.

[nbrodar]

Because of issues similar to those post above, we use Amtrak to transport crews whenever possible.

Nick

[CShaveRR]

We have at least one Forum poster here who would take issue with the generalizations being made here.  I happen to know that she's an excellent driver.

At our yard, we have regularly-assigned Renzenberger drivers.  If there are problems, the railroaders have no qualms about calling our Safety Hotline, and they are dealt with.

[sanvtoman]

 

         The last job i could have bid was called a "messenger checker" i think. Anyway it was a person in a company van that picked up train crews. I am not sure about on the road but around terminals and yards that was the job in the 80s. I think it was part of BRAC or the clerks union.
 

[Andy Cummings]

Express Shuttle Inc. out of Bismarck, N.D., has a lot of the BNSF contracts in the Midwest.

When I worked for DM&E, we generally used Express Shuttle as well, though I hear they've moved out since then and a new outfit has moved in.

I agree that, as much as the rail taxi service had some drivers that left me ill at ease, often the local cab companies were worse. One day we called a local cab service in a college town we served. I climbed into the cab, and noticed a funny smell in there. I asked the driver, "Has somebody been smoking reefer in here?" He laughed and said yes. He said the guy was in the back seat and asked him, "Mind if I smoke?" The driver told him, fine, so long as you roll down a window. And the passenger pulled out a great big fat smokable device of some kind and proceeded do smoke up. By the time I got in the cab, it was still pretty strong.

That same cab company, which we used quite a bit for short runs, ran exclusively with early 1990s-era Chevy Luminas. Because it was a college town and most of their business consisted of hauling drunks around after bar close, there was a faint odor of vomit in many of these old beasts. They were always beat up and had some ridiculous mileage on them. They ran loud, and often smelled of burning oil as well.

One Sunday morning one of my engineers was coming through Byron, Minn., and saw an old Lumina stalled on the tracks ahead of him and a guy trying to push the car off the tracks. The engineer threw the train in emergency, stuck his head out the window, and began waving to the motorist, signalling him to clear away. Finally the motorist wised up, stepped back from the tracks, and watched his Lumina get obliterated by an SD40. Turned out the guy was the local pastor on his way home from delivering his sermon.

When the engineer told me that story, I suggested he contact the pastor and recommend he try and sell the Lumina to the cab company in question. Even after getting mauled by a 3,000-ton freight, I said, it was probably in better condition than half the wrecks that outfit was driving around!

Andy Cummings
Associate Editor
Trains Magazine
Waukesha, Wis.
(former DM&E conductor)

[Anonymous]

if riding in a PTI van is scary.... and ive riden a few over the years....try this....many PTI drivers in Mi end up getting hired into train service.....i was hired by CSX in 97 out of Grand Rapids and there was 2 others in my class.....they both were PTI drivers.....and it took them 2 4 weeks longer to get set up.....even with cell phones maps and a CSX radio PTI drivers still get lost.....but realy its not as bad as riding in a regular taxi....ive rejected taxi cabs on account of unsafe cars or drivers....doesnt make the DSPR or TM's happy but hey.....safety first.....the other side of it is that there are a few safe responsible drivers on their payroll.......as well as some hotties

At least when they doze off they won't swerve and run off the tracks.

[tree68]

CSX uses "Quad A" in my neck of the woods.  I have no idea how good they are.  I'll agree with Carl - one of our 'old heads' here drove crew transport for quite a while, and I have no doubt she's an excellent driver.  On the other hand, sometimes she had to pull some pretty long runs, which don't do anyone any good.

Haven't seen her here in a while, but maybe she'll chime in.

[Expresslane]

 

   Wow I had no idea it was that bad. Glad to hear there are a few good ones. I would guess the railroads try to get by as cheep as they can and get what they pay for. You would think with all they talk about safety they would have safe drivers hauling the crews. Thanks for all the info.

[rrboomer]

Riding in a railroad contracted crew van is the one thing I miss LEAST about railroading! I always thought each time was going to end up as my last trip, except for the ride in the hearse.

At one time there was a driver in Gillette that could only drive 6pm-6am, he was on work release for first degree manslaughter. He actually was a good driver. Then there was a company in Bettendorf,IA that used only Checker cabs. It had been along time since they were new. They'd show up with the doors wired shut. Our favorite was the one with no floorboards in the rear. Just put your feet on the frame and watch the pavement go by.

[JoeKoh]

csx has a crew company haul crews but they also had a crew and engines come from garrett to rescue the 509 in defiance yard.

stay safe

joe

[Ulrich]

Why not give crews an allowance and they use that to arrange their own transportation? That way they can hire who they want and quit their griping over who their employer chooses.

[al-in-chgo]

Why not give crews an allowance and they use that to arrange their own transportation? That way they can hire who they want and quit their griping over who their employer chooses.

Or use Enterprise and rent the cars?  Or would that be too expensive?  Or would the crews be collectively too tired to take the wheel? 

 

[Semper Vaporo]

Why not give crews an allowance and they use that to arrange their own transportation? That way they can hire who they want and quit their griping over who their employer chooses.

By "contracting" with one company for all transportation the company pays less that it would cost to hire per need.  Divide the present contracted cost amongst the crew and each individual would not get enough to pay for the transportation they need.  One crew might need more because they get picked up 20 miles from the nearest lodging and another can pocket the allowance because they can just walk across the street.

 

[Doublestack]

I haven't had a chance to get back to Gillette, WY in a few years, but the last few times I was there, they had a small fleet of Renzenberger vans there for the coal line.  

I get to the BNSF HQ in Ft Worth every so often and there's often a Renzenberger van there picking up folks at the office.  Must use them for some kind of suttle there too.  If I recall, they're out of Shawnee KS.

[jeffhergert]

You also have to remember that these vans/cabs/etc, are used for more than just taking crews between hotels and the on/off duty points.  They take dogcatch crews to trains and bring the dead ones home.  They take deadhead crews from one terminal to the other.  They assist in taking trainmen from one end of the train (or yard) to the other for various duties.

In addition to the regular crew transport companies, we also get to deadhead terminal to terminal by charter bus.  Lately while the track work project out in Nebraska is going on, they have two or three buses on a regular route.  Sometimes only two or three crews are on the big bus.  A few times they decide not to deadhead so the bus runs the route empty.

Jeff         

[Poppa_Zit]

Yes there is more than 1 cab company and they haul for all the carriers. the class of driver is just 1 step higher than a drunk. some can just see the dash and others just over the dash.  on are trips to the motel we are 60 % driving on the shoulder ( either side) the other 30% we are in are lane ( or the one they drifted to ) that leaves 10% I cant tell you what is going on at that time or can the others as this is the time we are changing are shorts.  this is why we have had are off property insurance increased, and someone says that the ns uses a cab called PTI what terminals do they service

I've always thought they get those drivers from some kind of work release program. 98% should not be on the road. No matter how long I have been up and working, I could never muster up the nerve to go to sleep with some of these jokers at the wheel. Most had been up just as long as us so we had to stay awake to keep them up. I know some crew members who have actually had to drive theirself so the driver could sleep, but you didn't hear that from me.

Boy, I guess it's a good thing we don't have many van drivers with lawyers here as members.

[Philcal]

Locally,(Montgomery Alabama) CSX uses Yellow Cab for crew transportation. It's been a long time since I've heard any " reviews" concerning the service.

[wabash1]

Yes there is more than 1 cab company and they haul for all the carriers. the class of driver is just 1 step higher than a drunk. some can just see the dash and others just over the dash.  on are trips to the motel we are 60 % driving on the shoulder ( either side) the other 30% we are in are lane ( or the one they drifted to ) that leaves 10% I cant tell you what is going on at that time or can the others as this is the time we are changing are shorts.  this is why we have had are off property insurance increased, and someone says that the ns uses a cab called PTI what terminals do they service

I've always thought they get those drivers from some kind of work release program. 98% should not be on the road. No matter how long I have been up and working, I could never muster up the nerve to go to sleep with some of these jokers at the wheel. Most had been up just as long as us so we had to stay awake to keep them up. I know some crew members who have actually had to drive theirself so the driver could sleep, but you didn't hear that from me.

Boy, I guess it's a good thing we don't have many van drivers with lawyers here as members.

I have no problem with that, if they want to take me to court fine, Ive had a few drivers fired and not behind thier backs either i told them to follow me and we report to the train masters office, and both exsplain what happen, then we go are seperate ways me to work and him fired going home, as if these drivers didnt stay distracted trying to hear what crews are talking about then they get on thier cell phones. we have stopped this for now,

[lrfogle]

I am sure there are many unfortunate incidents that have, and will continue to happen with "contracted shuttle services" and the railroads.  I am currently a driver for Express Shuttle serving the BNSF our of Creston, Iowa.  Yes, we have had some cases of unqualified drivers, but they have been dealt with swiftly.  We continue to train with safety personnel from our headquarters every three months.  I personally encourage all of my fellow drivers to remember it is customer service first, last and always.  We always remember to cheerfully greet all our clients who come on board and always thank them for the privlege of getting to transport them.  We remind each other that the most important thing we have to do is SAFELY transport the "souls" we have on board with us to their destination.  It is sad that other companies are not on top of their drivers better.  Hope to have the honor of hauling some of you in the future.

[Ulrich]

I would take all that bitchin with a grain of salt...some people are just never happy. 

[zugmann]

yeah... doing 80mph on the interstate with a van driver that can barely stay awake, and had little clue where he is going.  We are just a bunch of whiners.

[RRKen]

yeah... doing 80mph on the interstate with a van driver that can barely stay awake, and had little clue where he is going.  We are just a bunch of whiners.

 

Or you wake up from your haze after 14 hours on duty to find your cab driver is in the eastbound lane going west.  Yeah we are whiners.

[Cris_261]

UP uses Armadillo in Utah, and possibly in Wyoming, since a lot of the Armadillo vans have Wyoming license plates. Or maybe that's just because Armadillo can save money by not having to pay out so much in sales taxes by purchasing the vans in Wyoming versus Utah.