PUBLIC LAW BOARD NO. 4886
PARTIES) NORFOLK AND WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY
TO )
DISPUTE) UNITED TRANSPORTATION UNION
STATEMENT OF CLAIM: Claiming one (1) basic day at the yard rate
of pay for S. L. Dunn (SS No. 522-35-9670) for date of July 17,
1995. Claiming one (1) basic day at the yard rate of pay for
S. L. Dunn (SS No. 522-35-9670) for date of July 18, 1995. The
claim is being made account S. R. Dunn was regularly assigned to
the Roanoke Terminal extra list on the two above dates and should
have been called as Pilot on the Brandt. The Brandt performed
service on Roanoke Terminal on July 17 and 18, 1995 that requires
a Pilot when used in yard service. There was no Pilot used on
this equipment on either of the dates.
FINDINGS: This Public Law Board No. 4886 finds that the parties
herein are Carrier and Employee within the meaning of the Railway
Labor Act, as amended, and that this Board has jurisdiction.
In this dispute the Organization has filed claims for the first
out available yard foreman on dates that a Brandt truck was
operated on-rail within Roanoke Terminal.
The Carrier describes the Brandt truck as a hybrid truck tractor
vehicle equipped with a flat bed mounted with a crane, modified
with retractable rubber tire wheels and steel rail wheels that
enable it to be operated either on highways or standard gauge
rail lines. The truck is equipped with a drawbar and is capable
of moving freight cars. The Carrier points up that the driver
of the Brandt truck is required by law to have a CDL truck license
and perform routine maintenance on the truck.
At the outset the Carrier contends that train and engine service
personnel are not required to be employed to operate or pilot the
Brandt truck. The Carrier's thrust in this vein is that this is
new technology, and no craft has an exclusive right to operate
this vehicle.
The Carrier further points up that the truck is operated both on
and off rail. The Carrier states that because the truck is capable of sustained highway speeds, it is not transported on a
flatbed or trailer, but rather it is driven by highway from one
work site to the next work site.
The Carrier further argues that even if the Brandt truck was considered a self-propelled vehicle under the rules, it did not
ik-911,9 A)O.
AWARD NO. 40
Case No. 40
Page 2
perform service which would require a yard foreman pilot. The
Carrier contends that on the claim dates the Brandt truck operated
from Roanoke Terminal into road territory, and a pilot is not
required when self-propelled machines merely traverse yard territory without actually performing work.
The Carrier has cited other examples when a pilot is not required
on self-propelled equipment, such as, when operated without cars,
when handling or switching non-revenue cars in connection with
work to be performed, or operating in confined areas, and when
operating in road territory under a Track Warrant.
The Organization relies primarily on Article III of the June 25,
1964 5-OPS National Agreement. The Organization contends that
the Brandt truck falls squarely within the parameters of the selfpropelled rule.
The Organization also points up that the Brandt truck is on-rail,
has a drawbar, is able to move freight cars, and handled more than
two cars exclusively within switching limits while performing
maintenance of way work. The Organization vehemently disagrees
with the Carrier's positions as to why employees are not required
to man the Brandt truck.
The Board has studied the evidence of, record, and it appears to
the Board that the general character or nature of the truck is
relevant, and we must look at the intended use of the Brandt
truck. :1s equipped, the Brandt truck comes squarely within
Article III of the 1964 5-OPS National Agreement.
The Carrier has cited a number of awards to support its position.
The Carrier relies upon Award
No.
6 of Public Law Board No. 972,
Award
No.
9 of Public Law Board
No.
2760, award
No.
68 of Public
Law Board
No.
1324 among others.
The Board finds that if the service of the Brandt truck had been
as outlined in the Carrier's position cited above, for instance,
operating in road territory under a track warrant, the claims
would have been denied.
However, this Board will sustain these claims because the Organization's oral argument is more persuasive that the Brandt truck
was used to move more than two cars from which ties were unloaded
exclusively within Roanoke Terminal.
AWARD: Claim sustained.
ORDER: The Carrier is directed to comply with this award within
thirty days from the date of this award.
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Award No. 40
Page 3
Preston J~oore, Chairman
Union Member
Carrier Member
DATE: ~~
Crirt ~.Q.2 a~,~1
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Carrier File: DT-ROY-96-2
Org. File C-96-1 (S-1)