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WASHINGTON – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) announced the nation’s major freight railroads plan to invest an estimated $24.5 billion in 2013 to build, maintain and upgrade America’s rail network to ensure freight railroads can continue to deliver for the nation’s economy.

With approximately 22 percent of the industry’s workforce eligible to retire in the next five years, railroads are dedicated to recruiting highly skilled people interested in making railroading a career, according to an AAR release.

Freight railroads also estimate they will hire more than 11,000 employees this year, primarily in response to retirements and attrition for positions that can be found across the U.S.

“We are looking for employees who want a true potential life-long career and will want to help make the railroads safer and more reliable than they have ever been,” said AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger. “The success of our industry – from our importance to the economy to our continually improving safety record – can be attributed to the hard working men and women who make their careers with the railroads.”

Rail employee compensation, including benefits, averages roughly $107,000 per year, according to the AAR, with jobs ranging from engineers and dispatchers, to law enforcement, to information technology and industrial development.

In the first five months of the year, railroads are participating in more than 70 career fairs across the country. For more information visit www.aar.org/jobs.

“While most other transportation modes rely on government funds, America’s freight railroads operate on infrastructure they own, maintain and upgrade to serve their customers and power our economy,” said Hamberger. “This year, freight railroads plan to continue to focus on investments that maintain and enhance our physical infrastructure and safety systems, including cutting edge technology that ensures we are ready to deliver for the future.”

With hundreds of transportation infrastructure projects underway nationwide, railroads are investing in projects such as intermodal terminals that facilitate truck to train freight transport; new track; bridges and tunnels; modernized safety equipment; new locomotives and rail cars, and other components that ensure the U.S. freight rail network remains the most reliable and efficient in the world.

Employees of the Texas & Northern Railway Company this week were successful in their efforts to bring union representation to their property.

In separate elections held Feb. 6 and Feb. 7, the operating and non-operating employees at the northeast Texas railroad voted overwhelming for SMART Transportation Division representation.

Non-operating employees include maintenance-of-way workers, machinists and mechanics.

The railroad, based in Lone Star, Texas, provides rail transportation service to U.S. Steel’s Texas Tubular operations, as well as other customers on its line, including A&A Coating, Friedman Pipe and Lone Star Specialties .

The Class III railroad comprises 7.6 miles of the trackage and 32 miles of storage tracks. It interchanges with Kansas City Southern operations at Veals Yard.

SMART Transportation Division Director of Organizing Rich Ross lauded the efforts of International organizers James “Mike” Lewis and Calvin Studivant and International staff member Cara McGinty.

“I would like to personally thank Mike and Calvin for their work put forth in this victory. There was a lot of traveling and a lot of effort involved,” Lewis said.

Texas & Northern Railway is a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Transstar, which also operates the Union Railroad Company in Pennsylvania and Delray Connecting Railroad Company in Michigan.

 

You need to know more about your Railroad Medicare benefits or specific claims.  Sometimes you’d like to find the information on your own, and other times, you want to speak with a Customer Service Representative (CSR).  Railroad Medicare, administered by Palmetto GBA, gives you the best of both of worlds. 

Just call Palmetto’s IVR at (800) 833-4455.  Without ever speaking to a person, you have direct access to the following: 

  • Eligibility
  • Deductible
  • Claim Status
  • Ability to order duplicate Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs)
  • General information about your benefits and coverage 

If you have questions, at any time, you can simply press “0” to speak with a CSR.  To assist you, Palmetto has posted a handy IVR flowchart on its website at www.PalmettoGBA.com/RR/Me.  Just look under “Resources” on the left-hand side of the page, and then “IVR Information.”

The following are tips for using the IVR: 

How To Enter Your Medicare Number: The IVR will prompt you to select the letter(s) at the beginning of your Railroad Medicare Health Identification Claim (HIC) Number. This is located on your red, white and blue Medicare card. 

For HIC numbers with more than one letter, the IVR will prompt you to select the next letter.  Here is a list of how the different letters are entered, using the numbers on your telephone key pad:  

  • To enter an “A” press 2
  • To enter “CA” press 5
  • To enter “H” press 3
  • To enter “MA” press 21
  • To enter “MH” press 22
  • To enter “PA” press 61
  • To enter “PD” press 62
  • To enter “PH” press 63
  • To enter “WA” press 41
  • To enter “WCA” press 44
  • To enter “WCD” press 45
  • To enter “WCH” press 46
  • To enter “WD” press 43
  • To enter “WH” press 42

Medicare Summary Notice: If you need a copy of an MSN, just enter your HIC number, date of birth (MMYY) and the date of service (MMDDYY) for the claim that appears on the MSN you’re looking for.   Here’s an example with apostrophes added for clarification: 

  • To enter a date of birth for October 1921, press “1021” 
  • To enter the date of service of October 7, 2012, press “100712” 

Deductible: You can verify if your Part B Deductible has been met for the current calendar year. 

Claim Status: Request claim status by entering your HIC number, date of birth (MMYY), date of service (MMDDYY), and the first six letters of your last name.

When is the IVR Available?

  • General information is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • Claims and deductible status are available Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET
  • Customer Service Representatives are available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. 

In addition to Palmetto’s IVR and website, they also invite you to visit their Facebook page, called ‘My RR Medicare’ at www.facebook.com/myrrmedicare.

CANADIAN NATIONAL

Canadian National Railway reported its income in the fourth quarter of 2012 was $613.8 million, increasing three percent from $595.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Revenue in the fourth quarter increased by seven percent year-over-year to $2.5 billion.

For the full year of 2012, profit was $2.7 billion, up eight percent from $2.5 billion in 2011. Yearly revenue increased by 10 percent to $10.0 billion.

CN’s operating ratio improved to 62.9 percent for the year. Operating ratio is a railroad’s operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenue, and is considered by economists to be the basic measure of carrier profitability. The lower the operating ratio, the more efficient the railroad.

CN is primarily a Canadian railroad. Its U.S. holdings include what were formerly Detroit, Toledo & Ironton; Elgin, Joliet & Eastern; Grand Trunk Western; Illinois Central, and Wisconsin Central.

CANADIAN PACIFIC

Canadian Pacific Railway reported net income of $15 million for the fourth quarter, down 93 percent from the $221 million it earned for the same period last year.

Revenue improved nearly seven percent during the quarter to $1.5 billion on the back of a one-percent improvement in carloads and a four-percent increase in revenue ton miles.

The operating ratio was 96 percent in the fourth quarter if all the unusual items are included and 74.8 percent on an adjusted basis.

Canadian Pacific is primarily a Canadian railroad. Its U.S. holdings include Class I Soo Line and regional railroad Delaware & Hudson.

CSX

Increases in merchandise and intermodal shipments were slightly offset by declines in coal haulage, so CSX reported earnings of $1.9 billion for calendar-year 2012 compared to $1.8 billion for calendar-year 2011. Fourth-quarter revenue of $2.9 billion was down two percent from the comparable quarter in 2011

CSX’s operating ratio increased 60 basis points to 72.1 percent in the fourth quarter, but for the full year, the operating ratio improved 30 basis points to 70.6 percent.

“CSX continues to demonstrate the underlying strength of its business model, the ability to respond quickly to significant events in the marketplace, and a steadfast focus on creating substantial shareholder value over the long term,” CSX Chairman, President and CEO Michael Ward said.

CSX operates some 21,000 route miles in 23 states and the District of Columbia.

KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN

Kansas City Southern’s operating income for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $174 million, compared with $150 million a year ago, a 15 percent increase. For the year, revenue rose from $2.1 billion to a company record $2.2 billion, and net income rose from $328.7 million to $377.1 million.

For the full year, KCS’ operating ratio was 69.9 percent, a 2.2-point improvement to the full year 2011 operating ratio of 72.1 percent.

“The company successfully navigated its way through a host of challenging economic and climatic issues to make 2012 one of the best years in its 125-year history,” said President and CEO David Starling.

KCS operates some 3,500 route miles in 10 states in the central and south-central U.S., as well as Kansas City Southern de Mexico, a primary Mexican rail line.

NORFOLK SOUTHERN

Norfolk Southern reported fourth-quarter 2012 net income of $413 million, compared with $480 million earned in the fourth quarter of 2011. Net income for 2012 was $1.7 billion, compared with $1.9 billion earned in 2011.

Income from railway operations was $714 million, 11 percent lower compared with fourth-quarter 2011, and $3.1 billion for 2012, three percent lower compared with 2011.

The railway operating ratio increased three percent to 73.4 percent during the fourth quarter and rose one percent to 71.7 percent for 2012 compared with the same periods of 2011.

Norfolk Southern operates some 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia.

UNION PACIFIC

Union Pacific’s fourth-quarter profit chugged ahead seven percent because the railroad raised shipping rates and collected more fuel surcharges.

The carrier reported earnings of $1.04 billion during the quarter, compared to $964 million in the fourth quarter 2011. Revenue grew three percent to $5.25 billion. UP said its coal shipments were down 17 percent and agricultural volume was off by nine percent. Shipments of chemicals and automotive products grew 14 percent and nine percent, respectively.

For all of last year, UP’s net income surged 20 percent to $3.94 billion on revenue of $20.93 billion. That’s up from 2011’s $3.29 billion on revenue of $19.56 billion.

UP’s operating ratio in 2012 was 67.8 percent, improving 2.9 points compared to 2011.

Union Pacific operates some 32,000 route miles in 23 states in the western two-thirds of the U.S.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In the last three years in Duval County, four people have been killed walking on railroad tracks.

That number may seem pretty small, but there are the unseen victims to consider in these cases as well: The men and women who have to witness a train killing a pedestrian with absolutely nothing they can do to stop it, First Coast News reports.

Read the complete story at First Coast News.

Canadian Pacific announced the appointment of Keith Creel as president and chief operating officer, effective Feb. 5.

E. Hunter Harrison will remain CP’s chief executive officer.

Read the complete story from The Globe and Mail.

Kelsey Gibson, 21, daughter of Michigan State Legislative Jerry Gibson and his wife Carmella, was seriously injured the morning of Jan. 29 in an automobile accident. 

Kelsey, a student at Grand Valley State University and recently engaged to be married, was driving a Ford Escape when she was broadsided by a pickup truck in heavy fog. She remains hospitalized and in a coma. 

A fund for the Gibson family has been established at FifthThird Bank. Send donations to: Stephanie Hickox, FifthThird Bank, 3980 Alpine Ave., Comstock Park, MI 49321. Make the check payable to “FBO Kelsey Gibson.” On the memo line put “#7168002785.” 

Donations can be made at all FifthThird Banks nationwide. Visit any FifthThird Bank and ask to make a deposit into account #7168002785, FBO Kelsey Gibson. 

“The doctors have told Jerry and Carmella that Kelsey is in for a long fight. That’s a lot of missed work and family expenses to be met,” said Don Silseth, UTU Local 313 treasurer and legislative representative. “If you can donate one day of pay, great. If you can donate a half day of pay, great. If you can donate one hour of pay, great. If you can offer continued prayers, great. It’s all needed and appreciated.”

To check on Kelsey’s progress, visit www.spectrum-health.org/carepages and clock on CarePages.com. Enter “Kelseygibson” in the search box. You will have to register with CarePages.com first.

Transportation funding in Missouri has been a hot topic at the state capital this session, State Legislative Director Ken Menges reports.

In its last session, the Missouri legislature appointed a committee to study the state’s transportation needs and UTU was invited and made a presentation.

There are now bills introduced that will ask voters to approve a one-cent sales tax dedicated to transportation and that will allow for the sale of bonds to cover future transportation projects.

Click here to read a Missouri Times article entitled “Transportation Emerging as Key Issue, Sales Taxes Proposed.” 

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In the state of Washington, representatives have introduced two bills critical to UTU members. 

The Railroad Crew Van Safety bill’s prime sponsor is Rep. Derek Stanford and has the support of both the chairperson of the House Transportation Committee and the ranking republican on the committee. 

The Yardmaster Hours of Service bill is sponsored by Rep. Larry Haler (R). The bill has been referred to the House Labor Committee. 

“It took a large amount of work and we have succeeded in getting bipartisan support on both of these issues,” said Washington State Legislative Director Herb Krohn. “Please print and post these bills and get them to our membership as soon as possible.”

The bills are HB1620 (Crew Van Safety Bill) and HB1621 (Yardmaster Hours of Service Bill).

See these bills on the Washington State Legislature website at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo.

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The Virginia Senate defeated a resolution that would have referred to the ballot a measure to put the state’s right to work (for less) law into the constitution.

SJ 293 was killed on a party-line 20-20 vote. The Lieutenant Governor was unable to break the tie because he is not allowed to vote on constitutional amendments.

More information can be found here. 

The UTU International is conducting a local treasurers’ workshop near Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 26-27, 2013.

Attendance is limited to 25 registrants.

Those interested in attending the workshop should contact the office of the UTU International general secretary & treasurer to register. Call (216) 228-9400, or email Executive Assistant Nancy Miller at nmiller@smart-union.org. Please register as soon as possible.

While all local treasurers will likely benefit from this workshop, newly elected treasurers are strongly encouraged to attend.

The two-day session will include all training and materials at no cost to local treasurers. However, the local is responsible for all other costs associated with the treasurer’s attendance at the workshop. Lost time or salary, travel, hotel and meal expenses connected with attendance may be reimbursed if pre-approved at a local meeting as an allowable expense of the local.

The workshop will provide local treasurers with hands-on training on the responsibilities and reporting duties pertaining to their office, including direct receipts and Winstabs. UTU International auditors will be available prior to the workshop Feb. 25 for one-on-one training.

The workshop will be held at the Drury Inn & Suites, 20300 E. 42nd St. S., in Independence, Mo. UTU corporate room rates of $65 per night, plus tax, are available for those needing overnight accommodations. Please note that rooms are based on availability and will only be held for our group until Feb. 15.

Reservations can be made by calling Drury Inn & Suites directly at (816) 795-9393. Provide the code “BNSF/UTU” when making reservations.

Training sessions will be conducted by UTU International Auditors Stephen Noyes and Mike Araujo.

Space is limited and attendees will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. It is recommended that those attending make their hotel reservations at the time of registration.

Attendees should bring a notebook computer and a USB flash drive.

(By M.J. Clark for Wyoming Business Report)

Wyoming’s main rail line, Union Pacific, reported net income of $3.9 billion in 2012, which makes 2012 “Union Pacific’s most profitable year in our 150-year history,” Jack Koraleski, UP’s CEO said in a company release.

The company saw profits increase 7 percent despite a 2 percent drop in total shipping volume, with coal down 17 percent and agricultural shipping down 9 percent. The drop in volume was more than made up for by a rise in shipping rates and the increased traffic in chemicals (up 14 percent) and automotive products (up 9 percent) during the fourth quarter.

Read the full story here.