Transportation News

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

National Legislative Director Risch addresses NARVRE

SMART Transportation Division National Legislative Director John Risch addressed the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees (NARVRE) in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on May 21, touching on the current national political climate and the need for retirees to step [...]

RRB to mail new Medicare cards

The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will send out new Medicare cards that do not feature beneficiaries’ Social Security numbers in the coming weeks. The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 required the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to [...]

Voting season has begun in 2018 — now is the time to act

Today marks the start of the 2018 election season in earnest with four states – Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia — holding primary elections, with many other primaries to follow from now until September. This is the chance for members of SMART Transportat [...]

OSHA schedules meeting to request comments on whistleblower issues

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has scheduled a meeting June 12, 2018, in Washington, D.C., to solicit comments and suggestions from stakeholders in the railroad and trucking industries on whistleblower issues within the jurisdictio [...]

Changes made to monthly SMART TD DIPP assessments

As a result of the continued increase in claims volume and associated costs, the SMART Transportation Division Discipline Income Protection Program (DIPP) is increasing its monthly assessments from 81 cents to 96 cents per $1 of daily benefits, effective July 1, 2018. Members [...]

Class I’s report first quarter 2018 earnings

Net Earnings: Up 37 percent, to $1.1 billion Revenue: $5.6 billion, an increase of 8 percent Operating Income: $1.74 billion, up from $1.58 billion a year ago Operating Ratio: Increased to 68.5 percent, but down from 69.2 percent a year ago Click here to read BNSF’s full earn [...]