Gentleman,
The 2009 Rules program launched on Jan 5th with some new features which appear to have resulted in excessive seat-times. The training center has received feedback from throughout the system and is making the following changes:

- Remove 1.4 hours of CBT training from Triennial/Biennial Rules: This will reduce the programmed seat-time from 8 hrs to 6.6 hours. The modules to be removed are not essential for certification and contain no test questions. They include all Hazardous Communication (.5 hours removed) and all of the Cab Communication modules except EO 26 (.9 hours removed)
New Total: 6.6 hrs
Review: 4.1 hrs
Testing: 2.5 hrs

- Replacement of 4 test questions: There were 4 test questions which after further review, we felt could have been written or displayed better. These questions have been replaced, all employees will be given credit for these questions, and all employees who failed a section due to these questions will be identified.

- Comprehensive Scoring: The implementation of scenario based scoring (GCOR only) graded each block of 10 questions separately. Programming will change to allow an employee to navigate through all 55 questions before giving a comprehensive score.

- Change CBT logic to allow employees to take the rules exam prior to NETSIM. The initial release restricted employees from taking the rules exam until after the NETSIM ride. We agree that it is better if the employee can take the exams immediately following the CBT review material.

The exam questions were replaced on Jan 8th. The remaining changes identified above will be implemented by Jan 15th.

Please accept my apology for some of these early issues. We are confident that the ideas incorporated this year (field input) including scenario based learning/testing and self paced navigation will be realized as an enhancement to learning.

If you have any questions and concerns, please feel free to contact me. Below are details from the new design document that show modules, planned seat times and exam questions.

Scott Schafer
General Director, Railroad Training Services
(913) 319-3900
Cell Phone: (913) 634-1949

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The attached rule increases the rail equipment accident/incident reporting threshold from $8,500 to $8,900 for certain railroad accidents/incidents involving property damage that occur during calendar year 2009, published in the December 23 Federal Register.



E8-30534

FRA is adjusting the minimum civil monetary penalty that it will apply when it assesses a civil penalty for a violation of a railroad safety statute or regulation under its authority.


Kathleen Policy
Legislative, Political & Regulatory Coordinator
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
Teamsters Rail Conference
25 Louisiana Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Office: (202) 624-8766
Cell: (202) 552-9328
Fax: (202) 624-3086



E8-30753

Guys:

This letter of understanding is being implemented for all locations that fall under a variable calling pool. There is so much confusion about being removed prior to vacation and when to remove and whatnot that we now have the ability to act prior to activation. If any engineer working in a variable calling pool does not want to be removed from the board and wishes to make his last trip prior to vacation beginning is exactly what will happen from now on. If you don’t want to work into your vacation then you can lay off, NFB, FOB or use the Code PRE which will allow you your name to be removed from your turn number prior to being activate. Then depending on which type of variable calling agreement you have will kick into effect. If you shove the pool when an engineer lays off then if an engineer lays off prior to activation under the above scenario the pool will be shoved and the next out engineer will be activated at the next update. If an extra man is used to protect vacancies in your variable calling pool then if you lay off prior to activation your turn will still be filled by the extra board just as before. Maybe this will stop all the confusion that is happening and to prevent so much anger about being pulled off the board when the engineer wanted to make the round trip before going on vacation.

Pat

To all BLET and UTU members,

Free 2009 digital time book programs and other tools are now available at TimebookPro.net Visit our site to see what is now available for all railroaders.
If you are a BLET or UTU webmaster, please consider placing a link on your site to let your members know about us. You may also forward this email to co-workers that may be interested in our free website.

Sincerely,
Don Buckles
Timebook Pro™
CSX Locomotive Engineer