Transportation News

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

AFL-CIO TTD sets rail safety priorities at meeting

The AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD) on March 11 announced the railroad industry issues that the coalition of transportation unions, of which SMART Transportation Division is a member, will prioritize in the coming months. Of the highest importance, the [...]

Progress on two-person crew bill in Washington state

The Washington State Legislative Board had some good news to report this week about its effort to get two-person crew legislation passed in the state. “For six consecutive years, we have doggedly pursued passage of this critical public safety bill. Today, for the first [...]

RRB: Longevity of Railroad Retirement beneficiaries

Every three years, the Railroad Retirement Board’s chief actuary conducts a study of the longevity of its annuitants, as part of a valuation of future revenues and benefit payments. The following questions and answers summarize the results of the most recent longevity study. [...]

Amtrak releases on-time report card for host railroads

National passenger carrier Amtrak released its 2018 Host Railroad Report Card, which grades six of the Class I freight host railroads based on delays caused to Amtrak trains over the last 12 months. The grades ranged from A to F, with Canadian Pacific being the lone recipient [...]

2019 UTUIA scholarship deadline is March 31

  This year, UTUIA has committed once again to supporting the children and grandchildren of our members by continuing to offer 50 four-year college scholarships and 50 two-year trade school scholarships, both at $2,000.00 per student, per year. Currently, UTUIA is paying [...]

Amtrak announces death of former CEO Joseph Boardman

Amtrak announced today that former President and CEO Joseph Boardman, 70, died today after having a stroke March 5: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Joe Boardman.” “Joe, during his tenure as FRA administrator, Amtrak board member and Amtrak president & C [...]

IRS Warns Taxpayers About Phishing Schemes

Kicking off the annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams, the Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers of the ongoing threat of internet phishing scams that lead to tax-related fraud and identity theft. The IRS warns taxpayers, businesses and tax professionals to be aler [...]

Deadline approaching for Union Pacific workers to apply for refunds

Certain Union Pacific (UP) workers who were employed by the carrier from 1991 to 2017 might get some money back in their pockets thanks to a ruling made in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. If they meet certain criteria and were taxed on particular st [...]

Georgia: Let’s get our two-person crew bill moving!

Georgia State Legislative Director Matt Campbell reports that his two-person crew bill (H.B.190) has been held up by a subcommittee and that the efforts of members are needed to get the bill to a vote. He asks that Georgia members take a minute or two to send an email announc [...]