Transportation Trades Department

Labor warns Alabama port authority seeks ‘back door’ to automation

A labor union is warning regulators that the federal government would be subsidizing future job cuts as well as a drive toward freight automation if a Buy America waiver sought by the Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA) is approved.

ASPA told the Federal Railroad Administration that the waiver is necessary in order to purchase two rubber-tired gantry cranes that it wants to install at its planned intermodal container transfer facility (ICTF) in Montgomery, Alabama.

Projects that receive funding...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/labor-warns-alabama-port-authority-seeks-back-door-to-automation

Feds mandate 2-person minimum for most train crews

WASHINGTON — Large freight railroads will have to undergo a rigorous approval process if they want to streamline operations down to one-person train crews.

The new requirement is part of the Federal Railroad Administration’s final rule announced on Tuesday mandating a two-person crew minimum on trains operated by Class 1 railroads unless a railroad can obtain approval for a one-person crew from FRA.

Such an approval will require railroads to demonstrate to FRA, through a petition and public...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/feds-mandate-2-person-minimum-for-most-train-crews

Mass furloughs reported at BNSF Railway operations in 4 states

BNSF Railway, one of the largest freight railroads in the U.S., has reportedly furloughed hundreds of employees in Kansas, Montana, Nebraska and Texas.

The furloughs were announced Tuesday, with 362 workers reportedly losing their jobs, according to the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) with the AFL-CIO, the union representing the workers.

“BNSF Railway callously announced it has furloughed over 362 mechanical department positions at numerous locations across their system,” Greg Regan,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/mass-furloughs-reported-at-bnsf-railway-operations-in-4-states

How will a government shutdown affect freight railroads?

On the surface, a government shutdown — which can occur if Congress can’t agree on how to handle the appropriations budgets — would have a limited impact on freight rail operations.

Freight railroads will keep running, transporting parts, materials and goods within North America and to and from the coastal ports. Ensuring safe operations will also be paramount, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

“As a privately owned and maintained industry, rail operations will continue...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-will-a-government-shutdown-affect-freight-railroads

Rail trade group says federal safety hotline could be misused

The sticking point between railroads and rail worker unions over a federal hotline for reporting safety concerns is how to ensure rail employees don’t misuse the system to avoid discipline, the head of the railroads’ trade group said in a letter Thursday to government officials.

The impasse is over how the confidential close call reporting system (C3RS) should handle situations in which an employee makes repeat calls over a “known event” — one in which a railroad might be already aware of a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-trade-group-says-federal-safety-hotline-could-be-misused

Union group wants Class I railroads to back anonymous tip hotline

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A rail union group wants to know why the Class I railroads haven’t yet adopted a federal program in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/union-group-wants-class-i-railroads-to-back-anonymous-tip-hotline

Union group pushes for passage of rail safety bill

Rail union representatives are poised to adopt a policy statement that urges Congress to pass a rail safety bill — one that mandates a minimum of two-person crew sizes on all passenger and freight trains, regulates train lengths exceeding 7,500 feet and ensures adequate inspections of rail cars, locomotives and brakes.

The latest policy statement of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO cites at least 18 areas where regulations and guidance via the Federal Railroad...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/union-group-pushes-for-passage-of-rail-safety-bill

Safety groups oppose roadside warning exemption for driverless trucks

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WASHINGTON — Truck safety advocates are warning federal regulators against approving a roadside...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/safety-groups-oppose-roadside-warning-exemption-for-driverless-trucks

Rail unions seek greater federal oversight to make operations safer

The fiery derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in Ohio last week has prompted some rail unions to press the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to increase its oversight of the freight railroads’ safety operations.

Since rank-and-file employees are the ones close to actual operations, one way to enable federal oversight is through requiring the seven Class I railroads to adopt the confidential close call reporting system, which would provide workers with a venue to anonymously report...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-unions-seek-greater-federal-oversight-to-make-operations-safer

Transportation industry representatives attack infrastructure law rollout

WASHINGTON — Transportation officials representing trucking, rail and seaports took aim at priorities touted by Democrats over the past two years — including the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — at the opening hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday.

They took their cue from the committee’s Republicans, who now lead the 65-member panel after Republicans took control of the House in January.

“Although I did not support the IIJA, I...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/transportation-industry-representatives-attack-infrastructure-law-rollout

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