Transportation News

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RRB announces spring schedule of pre-retirement seminars

If you are thinking of retiring within the next five years, you may want to consider attending a pre-retirement seminar hosted by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Designed for railroad employees and spouses planning to retire, the pre-retirement seminars the RRB offers fa [...]

Local 951 conductor expresses opinion on carrier push toward automation

Robert Peterson, a BNSF conductor out of Local 951 (Sheridan, Wyo.), questions the cost and need for freight railroads to push into automated technology in an opinion piece published Feb. 12 on the Railway Age website. Class I freight carriers are thriving with booming profit [...]

SMART TD supports bill to protect bus, transit operators

SMART Transportation Division leaders support the Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act (H.R.1139) introduced by U.S. Reps. Grace F. Napolitano (D – Calif.) and Congressman John Katko (R – New York) on Feb. 11 that would make the workplace safer for bus ope [...]

Hazmat training session scheduled for workers in Southwest region

The Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program has opened registration for a hazmat/chemical emergency response training program in April for rail workers in Arizona, western New Mexico, southeastern California and the Navajo Nation. This training addresses OSHA- and D [...]

Md. representatives hear two-person crew bill

A mobilization of SMART members urging the passage of a state two-person crew bill in Maryland made their voices heard on Thursday (Feb. 7). The bill, which requires two crew members on freight rail trains, was introduced by Delegate Dana Stein, who represents Maryland’ [...]

TD Connect workshop scheduled for March in Cleveland office

Because of continued demand, a workshop has been scheduled in March to help local treasurers learn how to use TD Connect, the new eBilling system that also manages member records. Numerous workshops scheduled in late 2018 and early this year filled to capacity. Follow the lin [...]

Colo. two-person crew bill advances to state Senate

The state of Colorado is one step closer to having a two-person crew law on the books. After a third reading of House Bill 1034 (HB19-1034), a vote was taken on the house floor Feb. 5, and the bill passed with a vote of 39 – 23. “We are glad the Colorado House of Representati [...]