Transportation News

Visit the digital archive of the SMART-TD News (PDFs)

Lawmakers change; our mission does not

By James Stem,UTU National Legislative Director With the election over, change has come to Washington. Since 2001, the congressional political majority has shifted three times. New majorities are nothing new to our UTU legislative team. While most UTU-endorsed candidates were [...]

Begin your document search early

To apply for Railroad Retirement or Social Security benefits, you must provide certain information, and it is suggested you begin the process at least three months prior to your anticipated retirement date. You will need the following information to register successfully for [...]

Do not become a victim of fraud

Financial fraud can empty your life savings. Here are 10 steps suggested by best-selling author Charles Murray. Every deal is a potential scam: Recognize that fraud is an act of deceit by one party intended to induce another to part with something of value. Map out your goals [...]

UTUIA helps provide secure retirements

How long will you live after you retire, and will you have enough money to live on comfortably? Good question. That’s why – before you retire – you should think about post-retirement economic security, because few things could be worse than money running out [...]

What is Medicare? How do I get started?

Medicare is the primary health insurance for retirees and their spouses. It is available for those over age 65, those under 65 with certain disabilities, and those of any age with permanent kidney failure. It consists of Parts A, B, C and D. Part A helps cover inpatient care [...]

Conductor certification coming Jan. 1, 2012

WASHINGTON — In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Nov. 10 Federal Register, the Federal Railroad Administration proposes to make Jan. 1, 2012, the effective date for implementation of conductor certification. The rulemaking on principles, elements [...]

Rahall to be ranking Dem. on T&I Committee

WASHINGTON — Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), a long-time friend of the UTU, will be the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee when the new Congress is seated in 2011. With the defeat Nov. 2 of Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), who had been c [...]

Hamburger helper Norfolk Southern style

PLATTSBURG, Ohio — Call it hamburger helper after a Norfolk Southern freight train plowed into a herd of cattle on the tracks here near Columbus, killing some 20 of the Black Angus cows, reports the Associated Press. The Associated Press quoted a NS engineer that his train of [...]

Continuing income a concern for retirees

After a lifetime of hard work, SMART TD rail, bus and airline members look forward to a secure retirement. In an ideal world, it would be that simple. In the real world, careful planning and attention to detail are essential. Topping the list of retirement concerns are money [...]

UP capital expenditures in 2011 to soar 25%

Union Pacific will increase its capital spending by 25 percent to $3.25 billion in 2011, reports the Journal of Commerce. UP capital exenditures in 2010 totaled $2.6 billion. UP said it will be purchasing as many as 200 new locomotives in 2011, upgrade numerous corridors to a [...]