crew rest article

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TheAntiGates

QUOTE: Originally posted by BaltACD

QUOTE: Originally posted by drfizzix

CSXEngineer.... one dumb question to follow up on this here... so the "tie-up" time after you have parked the train and are waiting for your taxi is still considered "on-duty" for purposes of hours-of-service law, correct? [%-)]

It is not considered on duty for HOS purposes, it is on the clock for pay purposes and the rest period does not start until you have FINALLY put off at the destination terminal.

OK really dumb question time,...do they pay by the hour ot by the trip/mileage?

I ask because I had always assumed they payed by the hour,..but when interviewing for conductor with NS recently, they gave me the impression that it was more a matter of pay for miles per trip than hours...

Well, I have heard of union labor agreements that have gone with both payment methods..... all I can say is I hope the poor guys on UP aren't on the mileage plan, because they certainly would be broke in that case [:D] .

[Anonymous]

To answer one of your questions Chris, generally if the FRA levies fines or sanctions, they are almost always against the railroad company, not against individual railroad employees, unless an employee caused an injury or fatality from grossly negligent behavior.

To attempt to answer your other question (if I understand it correctly), the railroad crew callers (which are seperate from dispatchers at least on Class 1's and most regional lines) are responsible for ensuring that train serv ice employees are given an adequate amount of rest time under HOS laws, although GCOR states that it is also the trainman's responsibility to inform the crew caller and / or other supervisors in the event a crew caller makes an error that violates HOS rest time requirements.

The FRA does have the authority to police these violations too, but I am not sure that they do much pro-active policing, especially on shortline railroads, unless they have a specific reason to be concerned about a particular railroad or division.

[ChrisBARailfan]

I have another question, is it the railroad who polices the dispatchers in terms of giving enough time off? And if a violation is incurred who will bear the brunt of the trouble?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BaltACD

QUOTE: Originally posted by drfizzix

CSXEngineer.... one dumb question to follow up on this here... so the "tie-up" time after you have parked the train and are waiting for your taxi is still considered "on-duty" for purposes of hours-of-service law, correct? [%-)]

It is not considered on duty for HOS purposes, it is on the clock for pay purposes and the rest period does not start until you have FINALLY put off at the destination terminal.

OK really dumb question time,...do they pay by the hour ot by the trip/mileage?

I ask because I had always assumed they payed by the hour,..but when interviewing for conductor with NS recently, they gave me the impression that it was more a matter of pay for miles per trip than hours...

[BaltACD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by drfizzix

CSXEngineer.... one dumb question to follow up on this here... so the "tie-up" time after you have parked the train and are waiting for your taxi is still considered "on-duty" for purposes of hours-of-service law, correct? [%-)]

It is not considered on duty for HOS purposes, it is on the clock for pay purposes and the rest period does not start until you have FINALLY put off at the destination terminal.

[Anonymous]

CSXEngineer.... one dumb question to follow up on this here... so the "tie-up" time after you have parked the train and are waiting for your taxi is still considered "on-duty" for purposes of hours-of-service law, correct? [%-)]

[Anonymous]

You had me worried there for a moment [:)]... a I said, this is my understanding of the Federal Law as stated by the above reference. If there is another part of the Federal Code that I have missed, I would certainly like to know, especially as I am still in the training phase of my railroad career with BNSF and really have not had to deal with these issues yet [:)] [banghead] .

I realize that actual railroad operating practices will vary and likely provide additional time beyond the minimum federal requirements outlined by the cited CFR as no railroad wants to risk being in violation of FRA-related laws and regulations. [:(]

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mvlandsw

drfizzix has it right.

my bad...i missed a key point... i stand corrected...
please disregard my bablings befor...lol
csx engineer

[mvlandsw]

drfizzix has it right.

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by drfizzix

Actually the federal minimum is 10 hours "off duty", which for railroads with a 2 hour call time, this would mean 8 hours minimum before being called for duty.

This is according to CFR Title 49 Part 228.19(a)(2) which can be accessed online at http://eCFR.GPOAccess.gov/ .

Now many railroads have off-duty requirements that may exceed these numbers, but these are the minimum FRA requirements. [:)]

no..its not..that only applays if are marked off of duty befor your 12 hours is up..if you are on duty longer then 12 hours...( you tie your train down at 12 hours..and then sit for another hour waiting for a taxi..and then another hour dead head back home...you are on duty 14 hours..which means your required to have 12 hours rest....)and being called for duty at 10 hours for a 12 hour call is still considered 12 hours rest
csx engineer
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

Actually the federal minimum is 10 hours "off duty", which for railroads with a 2 hour call time, this would mean 8 hours minimum before being called for duty.

This is according to CFR Title 49 Part 228.19(a)(2) which can be accessed online at http://eCFR.GPOAccess.gov/ .

Now many railroads have off-duty requirements that may exceed these numbers, but these are the minimum FRA requirements. [:)]

[ValleyX]

Yeah, except for that troublesome getting up to answer the phone part.[swg] You're right, though, that's how they look at it.

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ValleyX

The law requires ten hours off when working a full twelve and not relieved of responsiblity by the end of twelve. NS gives all road crews ten hours UNDISTURBED rest in their home terminal, note that this wouldn't apply to those being called for yard jobs. Undisturbed means that the phone won't ring until the end of ten hours.

10 hours undisturbed translates into 12 hours if you get a 2 hour call... so its actuly 12 hours rest...
csx engineer

[K. P. Harrier]

Altamont Press picked up the story. The link is below.

http://www.railroadnews.net/news/4-25.html

[ValleyX]

The law requires ten hours off when working a full twelve and not relieved of responsiblity by the end of twelve. NS gives all road crews ten hours UNDISTURBED rest in their home terminal, note that this wouldn't apply to those being called for yard jobs. Undisturbed means that the phone won't ring until the end of ten hours.

[Randy Stahl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxengineer98

if you are on duty for more then 12 hours..you are reqired to have a minimum of 12 hours off too...
csx engineer

Make that 10 hours off and you got a deal

[csxengineer98]

if you are on duty for more then 12 hours..you are reqired to have a minimum of 12 hours off too...
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

The only limitations that I am aware of are the 12 and 8 "Hours of Service Law" meaning 12 hours on duty maximum, followed by 8 hours off duty minimum. Most "road" train service crews, at least on Class 1's and most regional rail lines, commonly work 60 - 80 hours per week, although strictly by the Hours of Service Law, it would be possible to be worked even more than that in theory.

[Anonymous]

Todays LA times has a large article about wrecks caused by tired crews. Do most train crews work 60 +hours per week. Whats the legal limit? In trucking its 70 hours in 8 days,or 60 hrs in 7 days all depending on how the driver logs .