April 2, 2024 | 2-man Crews, FRA, Headlines, Railroad Safety
(Source: Washington Post, April 2, 2024) The Biden administration on Tuesday required the largest freight railroads to operate their trains with at least two people on board, seeking to improve rail safety with a new mandate that immediately drew stiff industry...
April 2, 2024 | 2-man Crews, FRA, News, Railroad Safety, Train Length
Statement by Eddie Hall BLET National President April 2, 2024 For the past 13 years our union, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, has advocated for a federal rule requiring that trains be staffed by a minimum of one certified engineer and a...
April 2, 2024 | 2-man Crews, FRA, Headlines, News, Railroad Safety
(Source: Associated Press, April 2, 2024) Major freight railroads will have to maintain two-person crews on most routes under a new federal rule that was finalized Tuesday. The Federal Railroad Administration released the details of the rule Tuesday morning,...
March 27, 2024 | 2-man Crews, C3RS, Legislation, News, PSR, Railroad Safety
On March 13, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Rail Subcommittee hosted a roundtable discussion to examine safety issues in the railroad industry. BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative Vince Verna represented BLET. During his...
March 20, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Legislation, News, Railroad Safety
A fellow Rail Conference member from the BMWED (wearing red) joined BLET members (from left to right) Ulises Flotte, Div. 20, Ryan Snow, BLET California State Legislative Board Chairman, Jerry Padilla, Div. 660, and Jacob Klatt, BLET Div. 126, at the rally in Los...
March 19, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Legislation, News, Railroad Safety
Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin vetoed a two-person crew bill on March 8, but the fight isn’t over yet. BLET Virginia State Legislative Board Chairman Tim Craver said supporters of the measure are seeking to enlist enough members of both chambers to overturn the veto....
March 14, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Headlines, Legislation
(Source: Virginia Mercury, March 12, 2024) Virginia’s legislative effort to require two crew members on all trains died after the governor vetoed the legislation on Friday, March 8. Following multiple train derailments in recent years, considerations of a similar...
March 4, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Headlines, Legislation
(Source: Virginia Mercury, March 2, 2024) As the federal government considers requiring two crew members on all trains, similar legislation to increase rail safety statewide passed both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly. Del. Shelly Simonds, D-Newport News,...
February 22, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Legislation, News, Railroad Safety
Virginia BLET Virginia State Legislative Board Chairman Tim Craver reports progress on the state’s two-person crew bill. Both bills — SB 143 and HB 385 — have passed their respective chambers after their third reading earlier this month. Both are in the legislature’s...
February 14, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Legislation, News, Railroad Safety
A filibuster stretching over three days derailed a proposal in Nebraska’s unicameral legislature to require two-person train crews. State Sen. Mike Jacobson sponsored the proposal, which had been introduced multiple times in recent years. This was the first time...
