Transportation News

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

Long-Term Disability open enrollment begins August 1

SMART Transportation Division has partnered with MetLife to bring our Rail and Bus members the most comprehensive and cost-effective Voluntary Long-Term Disability plans. VLTD insurance helps you protect your income if you suddenly have to stop working due to an accident or i [...]

SMART TD Mobile App for year-round use!

July 1, 2016 (Edit) SMART TD Mobile App: Updated, Easy and Free, and is a “must have” for Regional Meetings and much, much more… The SMART TD Mobile App has the same features as before, with new features added that make locating, scheduling and rating Regional Meeting worksho [...]

Ten safety tips for this 4th of July

CHICAGO – Ensure your Independence Day weekend is filled with celebration and not regret with these 10 fire safety tips, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region V office in Chicago: Be sure fireworks are legal in your area before using or buying them. Alway [...]

Member Health and Welfare contributions to increase

Effective July 1, 2016, rail employees covered under The NRC/UTU Health and Welfare Plan and The Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan will see their monthly Health and Welfare contribution increased from the current $198.00 per month, to $228.89 per month. Why [...]

BNSF freight trains collide near Amarillo, TX

Amarillo.com reported that BNSF freight trains collided head-on this morning in the town of Panhandle, Texas, near Amarillo, creating a massive fireball and explosion that prompted a swift evacuation of Panhandle residents. Injuries and missing persons have been reported; at [...]

Members make all the difference!

Dear  Member: Recently, Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert of Texas – one of the most conservative members of the U.S. House of Representatives – cosponsored our two-person crew legislation, H.R. 1763, the Safe Freight Act. This show of support follows cosponsorship from Co [...]

Santa Cruz Metro drivers narrowly avoid layoffs

Santa Cruz Metro bus drivers narrowly avoided being laid off, when a new budget was reached Friday, June 24, saving the drivers’ jobs. The budget hinges on a pending sales tax ballot measure to be voted on by taxpayers in the November elections. Metro approved a two-year budg [...]

Two adults, three children dead after collision with Amtrak train

An Amtrak train stuck a minivan Sunday morning near Trinidad, Colo., killing two adults, three children and seriously injuring a fourth child. Southwest Chief Amtrak Train 3 was traveling from Chicago to L.A. with 286 passengers when the accident occurred. None of the Amtrak  [...]

Contact your Reps. about two-person crew legislation

By National Legislative Director John Risch Recently, Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert of Texas – one of the most conservative members of the U.S. House of Representatives – cosponsored our two-person crew legislation, H.R. 1763, the Safe Freight Act. This show of support [...]

Feds blame Union Pacific for June 3 derailment

Federal investigators are placing the blame squarely on Union Pacific Railroad for their lack of track maintenance that caused the June 3rd fiery derailment that resulted in a mass evacuation as 42,000 gallons of crude oil spilled into the small town of Mosier, Oregon. Read t [...]