Transportation News

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

SMART-TD update on state legislative efforts

SMART-TD, behind the leadership of National Legislative Director Greg Hynes and Alternate National Legislative Director Jared Cassity, have unprecedented positive momentum in the halls of state legislatures across the country. Our legislative directors currently have bills in [...]

Ohio members: Support is needed for state’s rail safety bill

Ohio members are urged to express their support for H.B. 23, a rail-safety bill that covers two-person crews, requires documentation of blocked crossing incidents and requires state-supervised oversight to ensure the proper operation of wayside defect detectors. In-person tes [...]

Both sides of aisle have sights set on PSR

A bipartisan coalition of United States Senators are seeking to get to the root of PSR.  In the wake of the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment of a Norfolk Southern train on Feb. 3, there are many questions being asked about what caused the disaster and what is being done [...]

Your contributions make our union voice stronger!

The SMART Transportation Division and its Public Relations Department are looking to better serve you, our members. We are responding to feedback that the stories we put out should be more focused on what is happening at the ballast and road levels and within the crew bases t [...]

Despite derailment shock, NS shareholders will be OK, analysts say

The analysts and financial pundits seem to have already spoken, pronouncing that Class I Norfolk Southern (NS) and its shareholders are going to be just fine in the aftermath of the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment. The experts have let us all know that what could turn out to [...]

From the Ballast: The unavoidable contradiction of rail hiring

“From the Ballast” is an open column for SMART Transportation Division rail members to state their perspective on issues related to the railroad industry. Members of the union are encouraged to submit content by emailing to news_TD@smart-union.org. Columns are pub [...]

RRB releases schedule of spring pre-retirement seminars

Union officials, auxiliary members and their spouses as well as rail employees and spouses within five years of retirement are welcome to attend one of a series of Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) pre-retirement seminars. The spring schedule is as follows: Date Site April 28, [...]

Alt. NLD Cassity talks safety, Ohio derailment on Rick Smith podcast

SMART Transportation Division Alternate National Legislative Director Jared Cassity was a guest of The Rick Smith Show podcast released on Friday night. In the interview, Smith and Alt. NLD Cassity discussed the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and the rol [...]