Category: Washington
TTD, SMART TD urge end to shutdown
SMART Transportation Division President John Previsich supports a rapid resolution to the partial federal government shutdown and fully endorses this message from AFL-CIO TTD President Larry Willis that was sent to U.S. representatives. January 10, 2019 End this Unnecessary a [...]
OSHA’s guide to working in cold weather
Winter weather presents hazards including slippery roads/surfaces, strong winds and environmental cold. Employers must prevent illnesses, injuries, or fatalities, by controlling these hazards in workplaces impacted by winter weather. OSHA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric [...]RRB nominees confirmed; Amtrak board choices go back to president
Six nominees to transportation-related agencies were confirmed by the U.S. Senate via unanimous consent Jan. 2, including three Railroad Retirement Board members. Johnathan Bragg, Thomas Jayne and Erhard R. Chorle were all confirmed to the RRB. Bragg, the labor member of the [...]
FRA publishes minimum drug and alcohol testing rates for 2019
On Dec. 28, 2018, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published its determination of minimum random drug and alcohol testing rates for 2019 for covered service employees and Maintenance of Way (MOW) employees in the Federal Register. FRA determined that the minimum annu [...]
Local chairperson speaks at rail trespassing/crossing fatality summit
Your browser does not support the video tag. Tom Cahill, local chairperson of LCA-049 (CSXT – B&O) and vice president of SMART Transportation Division Local 631 (Brunswick, Md.), was among the presenters at the first Trespasser and Grade Crossing Fatality Prevention [...]
AP analysis: DOT miscalculated when considering brake rule
The Associated Press reported Dec. 20 that an analysis by the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) did not take into account up to $117 million in damage reductions when considering the repeal of a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rule requiring the installation of [...]
NS asked to confer with STB on implementation of Precision Scheduled Railroading
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) chairwoman has asked Norfolk Southern’s CEO to keep the board apprised as the carrier begins to add elements of Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) to its operations, Trains Magazine reports. The letter from Ann Begeman, sent Nov [...]
Final FMCSA rule regarding operators with diabetes takes effect
A final rule published from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) permits medical examiners to allow commercial operators with insulated-treated diabetes to get behind the wheel without a months-long waiting period, Transport Topics reports. The permission g [...]