November 1, 2005
Circular No. 308-S
All Local Chairpersons
NKP, WAB and portions of Former Conrail
C-T-E
Dear Sirs and Brothers:
This is in regards to ‘trip rates” and the proper procedure for claiming a second trip rate when road crews are called to perform relief
service and then are deadheaded to the opposite terminal upon arrival back inside the yard.
As most of you are aware this issue has been a constant problem since the implementation of ‘trip rates’ on this property. Previously
when a road crew was entitled to a second trip rate most of the time it was necessary to be handled by this office in order to get the claim
paid. Labor Relations advised in April of this year that the road crews could make a claim for the second trip rate by simply using the ‘PH’
claim code which would generate a second trip rate. Well, as we all know this has not completely corrected the problem.
I have handled this matter again with Labor Relations and Payroll and have been instructed the following procedure must be used when
road crews are claiming a second trip rate when used in relief service and then deadheaded to the opposite terminal. Road crews SHOULD
NOT file a claim using the ‘PE’ claim code as this will only slow the process in getting the second trip rate paid.
Payroll has advised that the following instructions must be used when claiming a second trip rate. Crews working jobs that are trip rated
and are used for Hours of Service relief once before or after deadheading terminal to terminal must enter the ‘PH’ claim on their service tie-
up screen with remarks to support the payment of a second trip rate. The remarks needed include train number relieved, time left terminal,
milepost where train was relieved, time back into terminal and total miles run. Providing this information and the ‘PH’ claim code should
generate a second trip rate.
There have also been questions as to the proper procedure for the second trip rate when called in ‘short turn’ service for multiple trips
and then required to deadhead to the opposite terminal. If relieving multiple trains outside the switching limits before or after deadheading
terminal to terminal and the crew feels they have qualified for an additional trip rate the ‘RM/RT’ claim code should be used. If the crew was
deadheaded after the short turn service they would have to use the ‘PH’ code as detailed above.
I hope this information is helpful and will eliminate the problems we are having when trying to claim the second trip rate as outlined above.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Fraternally yours,
Delbert G. Stunk, Jr.
General Chairperson
United Transportation Union
Cc: All Local Secretaries
This letter has been retyped instead of being scanned for quality purposes.