Survey Recommendations

July 17, 2009
Judith Gerther
Division Manager, Human Performance
QinetiQ North America
Technology Solutions Group
VIA Electronic Mail
Dear Ms. Gertler,

Please accept the following suggestions regarding FRA’s proposed information collection
activity (OMB Control No. 2130, FRA-2009-0001-N-11) filed jointly by the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the United Transportation Union in the above
captioned matter. We fully support this information collection with the following revisions.

Suggestions for the Daily Log
Suggestion #1 - Page #4
Sleep periods (Complete Daily)
Revise bolded instructions, “You may report a nap concurrently with work, limbo time or interim
release if this occurs.”
Suggested language, “You should report all naps that you take during on-duty time, limbo time
or interim release.”
Suggestion #2 – Page #8
Instructions for T &E Service Employee Log

The last sentence of the second paragraph should read the same as the language in suggestion
number 1 above.
“You should report all naps that you take during on-duty time, limbo time or interim release.”
Suggestion #3 – Page #9
Sample Entry
When referring to a job or duty tour we suggest using the term assignment (i.e. split
assignment”) rather than shift.
The language in the sample text should be broken into two examples, one for split assignments
and one for non-split assignments, which should also be defined.
Example A – Split Assignment. These are assignments that span more than 12 hours from onduty time to final release time and contain a legally required “interim period of release” (4 Hour
break)
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

You wake at 05:00
You commute from home to work between 06:00 and 07:00
You go on-duty and (work) between 07:00 and 11:00
You go on an Interim period of release between 11:00 and 15:00
You nap away from home between 11:30 and 14:30
You go back on-duty and (work) between 15:00 and 19:00
You commute from work to home between 19:00 and 20:00
You sleep at home between 22:00 and 05:00

A sample activity log should be displayed for this split assignment.
Example B – Straight through or Non-split assignment. These are assignments that span less than
12 hours from on-duty time to final release time and do not contain a legally required “interim
period of release” (4 Hour break). They usually include assignments such as yard, protect and
revenue road assignments.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

You wake at 0:500
You commute from home to work between 06:00 and 07:00
You go on-duty and work between 07:00 and 16:00
You nap away from home between 10:30 and 12:00
You commute from work to home between 16:00 and 19:00
You sleep at home between 21:00 and 05:00

A sample activity log should be displayed for this non-split (straight) assignment.

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Suggestion #4 – Page# 12
This page should include the following questions for extra list employees
A) For Unscheduled Assignments (extra list)
a. _______Timed called
b. _______On-Duty time
B) Type of service performed this day:
_____Commuter
_____Intercity
_____Long Haul
C) Type of assignment this day:
_____ Split assignment
_____ Straight (Non-Split) assignment
Suggestion #5 – Page#18
Q5 – What type of assignment are you currently on?
Delete options for; “Passenger or commuter service”, “Local Freight” & “Road
Freight”
Add options for:
_____Straight assignment (regularly assigned, No break)
_____Split assignment (regularly assigned W/ 4hour Break)
_____Relief assignment all same shift
_____Relief assignment changing shifts
_____Extra List assignment
_____Hybrid - See Amtrak rule (9J) some regular days and some extra days

Q6 – My current position is

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Add option for:
____Asst. Cond./Ticket Collector

Suggestions for the Background Survey
Suggestion #6 – Page#19 &20
Sleep/Rest Arrangements
Revise statement: Please complete this section if you assignment contains any opportunity for
rest between your on-duty time and your final release time.
In Item (1)
1) Delete the term “camp car”
2) Add a fourth choice
a) ____I go home to sleep
Add new Item (3)
If you are resting at an away from home terminal or a company provided point of interim release
use this scale to rate the following statements
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

1- Strongly agree
2 – Agree
3 – Neither agree or disagree
4 – Disagree
5 – Strongly disagree

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1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

I am able to switch off completely during my break._______________
There is nowhere for me to rest/nap during my break._____________
There are not enough bunks available when I arrive_______________
My supervisors do not disturb me during my rest/nap_____________
My rest/nap is frequently interrupted with work activities__________
I’m not able to take a nap during my workday____________________

Suggestion #7 – Pages#20
Your work schedule
Item (1)(b) add “Extra list” after “…regular schedule”
Item (1) Add new
1) (c) What is your call window?
_____I am on call 24 Hours
_____I am on call between ______and _____
Suggestion #8 – Page 20
Your work schedule
Item (2) Add “including periods of interim release” at the end of the sentence.

Suggestion #9 – Page# 21
Your work schedule
Item (4) delete language, add new, How often per month do you work your day off?
________________________

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(4)(a) Why?
a) ____Voluntarily
b) ____Ordered
c) ____other ____________________________________

Suggestion #10 – Page# 21
Your work schedule
Add new, Item 6, How often do you feel well rested and alert after a nap during your work day?
Never

Occasionally

Frequently

Always

Suggestion #11 – Page 21
Stress at work
Add new stress item for rating
______Crew management

Thank you in advance for your attention to these changes.

Sincerely,

James Stem
United Transportation Union (UTU)
202-543-7714

John Tolman
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and
Trainmen (BLET)
202-624-8776 

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