Questionnaire Programming Language

Purpose

	The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), an agency of the Congress, is conducting this survey as part of a study of the hours of service requirements included in the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA). This act both revised existing requirements and introduced new hours of service requirements for the freight railroad industry. Among the hours of service requirements included in RSIA are an increase in the minimum rest time from 8 hours to 10 hours during a 24-hour period for covered employees, a cap of 276 hours per calendar month on total monthly work hours for covered employees, a prohibition against railroads' contacting covered employees during their undisturbed rest times, and a limit on the number of hours per calendar month (currently 30 hours) that a covered employee can be in a status that is neither on duty nor off duty (called limbo time). The purpose of this survey is to provide insight into the impact of these hours of service requirements on the freight railroad industry. This survey only covers changes to freight railroad hours of service requirements that became effective July 16, 2009. It does not apply to passenger rail operations. We appreciate you taking the time to complete this important survey. Findings will be used in reports and testimony to Congress. Directions for Completing This Survey We encourage you to answer each question as completely as possible. Before choosing an answer, please read the full question and all response choices carefully. There are no right or wrong answers. Please respond in your capacity as a company manager. The survey should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

	(View responses)

RSIA Hours of Service Requirement Definitions

	Terms used in the survey are described below. COVERED EMPLOYEE -An employee specified in 49 U.S.C. § 21101. This includes a train employee, signal employee, or dispatching service employee. 10-HOUR UNDISTURBED REST PERIOD - The minimum off-duty period of 10 consecutive hours that covered employees are generally required to receive without contact by a railroad or other covered employer. Under RSIA, this period increased for some covered employees from 8 to 10 hours. 276-HOUR MONTHLY CAP - The maximum number of hours in any calendar month that a train employee may spend on duty; waiting for deadhead transportation, or in deadhead transportation from a duty assignment to the place of final release; or in any other mandatory service for a carrier. 49 U.S.C. § 21103(a)(1). Deadheading means the physical relocation of a train employee from one point to another following a verbal or written directive from the railroad. CREW SCHEDULE CHANGES - Change(s) made in covered employees' work schedules as a result of RSIA hours of service requirements. For example, a covered employee's work schedule could change from 11 consecutive days with crew starts and 4 days (96 hours) of rest to 6 consecutive days with crew starts and 2 days (48 hours) of rest. CONTACT DURING REST PERIOD - Any communication by a railroad or other covered employer with a covered employee, by telephone, pager, or any other means that could reasonably be expected to disrupt the covered employee's rest during a mandatory rest period. MONTHLY CAP ON LIMBO OR DEADHEAD TIME- Number of hours per calendar month that a covered employee is permitted to be in a status that is neither on duty nor off duty. Under RSIA, except in certain situations, this time is currently capped at 30 hours per calendar month. Deadhead time is also currently subject to this 30-hour cap. SAFETY RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM - A program developed and used by railroads to identify and mitigate risks to safety, including risks associated with covered employee fatigue. RSIA requires that all Class I railroads, selected "at risk" railroads, and intercity and commuter railroads develop a safety risk reduction program, including a fatigue risk management plan (FRMP), by October 2012. 49 U.S.C. § 20156.

	(View responses)

Changes Resulting from RSIA Hours of Service Requirements

1.	Does your railroad have any employees covered by the RSIA hours of service requirements?
	(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)
		Yes
		No (GO TO QUESTION 25)
	(View responses)

2.	How many of your employees are covered by the RSIA hours of service requirements? Number of employees

	(View responses)

3.	During 2010, how many covered employees, if any, reached or exceeded the 276-hour total cap in each of the following months?

	(View responses)

Covered employees

	January 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	February 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	March 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	April 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	May 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	June 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	July 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	August 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	September 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	October 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	November 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	December 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

4.	During 2010, how many covered employees, if any, reached the 30-hour monthly cap on limbo or deadhead time in each of the following months?

	(View responses)

Covered employees

	January 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	February 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	March 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	April 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	May 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	June 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	July 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	August 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	September 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	October 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	November 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

	December 2010
	(View responses)


	(View responses)

5.	Which of the following changes, if any, did your railroad or your railroad's parent company make as a direct result of the RSIA hours of service requirements?

	(View responses)

		Yes	No	Don't Know	No response
	Created a new hours of service time-keeping system (View responses)
	Reprogrammed or updated an existing hours of service time-keeping system (View responses)
	Began or enhanced methods to assess employee fatigue (View responses)

6.	Did your railroad make any of the following changes as a direct result of the RSIA hours of service requirements? How much of an operational burden to your railroad, if any, were the changes directly resulting from the RSIA hours of service requirements?

	(View responses)

Changes

Did your railroad make this change as a direct result of the RSIA hours of service requirements?

If yes, how much of an operational burden, if at all, were the changes directly resulting from the RSIA hours of service requirements?

	Changed train schedules
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

	Changed crew schedules
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

	Changed crew calling system
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

	Brought furloughed covered employees back in service
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

	Placed employees on furlough
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

7.	What other operational changes has your railroad made as a direct result of the RSIA hours of service requirements?

	(View responses)

8.	Are any of the following actions occurring as a direct result of the RSIA hours of service requirements? How much of an operational burden to your railroad, if any, are the actions directly resulting from the RSIA hours of service requirements?

	(View responses)

Actions

Did this action occur as a direct result of RSIA hours of service requirements?

If yes, how much of an operational burden, if at all, did this have on your railroad?

	Guaranteed hours of work for employees were not met
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

	Processing of employee claims for lost work opportunities increased
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

	Ability to meet customer needs was reduced
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

	Ability to handle signal system trouble calls was reduced
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

	Routine or scheduled signal system maintenance was delayed or deferred
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

	Employees were temporarily held from service due to caps
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

	Train service was delayed or canceled
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

	Ability of managers to perform noncovered service was reduced
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

	Ability of managers to perform covered service was reduced
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

	Time required for record keeping or record keeping review increased
	(View responses)

			Yes (GO HERE)
			No
	(View responses)

			Very great burden
			Substantial burden
			Moderate burden
			Some burden
			Little or no burden
	(View responses)

9.	What other actions are occurring as a direct result of the RSIA hours of service requirements?

	(View responses)

10.	Did your railroad incur any financial costs from the following as a direct result of changes made because of RSIA hours of service requirements?

	(View responses)

		Yes, financial costs incurred	No financial costs incurred	Don't know
	Changed train schedules (View responses)
	Changed crew schedules (View responses)
	Changed crew calling system (View responses)
	Brought furloughed covered train and engine (T&E) employees back in service (View responses)
	Placed employees on furlough (View responses)
	Hired new T&E covered employees (View responses)
	Began or enhanced methods to assess employee fatigue (View responses)
	Reduced reliance on managers to perform covered services (View responses)
	Paid wages or other compensation for guaranteed hours not worked (View responses)
	Introduced or revised hours of service records or record keeping system (View responses)

11.	Did you hire or bring back from furlough any new T&E covered employees as a direct result of the RSIA hours of service requirements?
	(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)
		Yes
		No (GO TO QUESTION 16)
	(View responses)

12.	How many new T&E covered employees were hired or brought back from furlough as a direct result of the RSIA hours of service requirements? Newly hired or brought back from furlough T&E covered employees

	(View responses)

13.	On average, what are the annual wage and benefit costs for the new covered T&E employees hired or brought back from furlough as a direct result of the RSIA hours of services requirements? Average wages and benefits of new covered T&E employees and employees brought back from furlough

	(View responses)

14.	Did you have direct costs associated with hiring and training the newly hired or brought back from furlough T&E covered employees?
	(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)
		Yes
		No (GO TO QUESTION 16)
	(View responses)

15.	What types of direct costs associated with hiring and training the newly hired or brought back from furlough T&E covered employees did your railroad incur?

	(View responses)

16.	How much of an operational impact, if any, have the following RSIA hours of service requirements had on your railroad?

	(View responses)

		Very great impact	Substantial impact	Moderate impact	Small impact	No impact	Don't know
	276-hour monthly cap (View responses)
	10-hour undisturbed rest period (View responses)
	Crew schedule changes (View responses)
	Limbo or deadhead time monthly cap (View responses)

17.	Did the following increase, stay the same, or decrease as a direct result of the RSIA hours of service requirements?

	(View responses)

		Increased	Stayed same	Decreased	Don't know	Not applicable
	Number of covered T&E employees (View responses)
	Number of crew starts (View responses)
	Size of crew pools (View responses)
	Size of extra boards (View responses)
	Use of extra boards (View responses)
	Claims for missed work opportunities or compensation (View responses)
	Hours or days at away-from-home terminals (View responses)
	Number of shifts for yard crews (View responses)
	Delays in performing scheduled signal system maintenance (View responses)
	Amount of undisturbed rest for employees (View responses)
	Number of signal system trouble calls handled (View responses)

18.	Does your railroad have a written safety risk reduction program that includes a fatigue risk management plan?
	(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)
		Yes
		No
		Don't know
	(View responses)

19.	Does your railroad have or use biomathematical tools (such as fatigue models) to analyze or assess the risk of fatigue for covered T&E employees?
	(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)
		Yes
		No
		Don't know
	(View responses)

Federal Role in RSIA Hours of Service Requirements

20.	Has the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) inspected or audited your railroads' hours of service records or recordkeeping system since the hours of service requirements covering freight railroads took effect on July 16, 2009?
	(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)
		Yes
		No (GO TO QUESTION 23)
		Don't know (GO TO QUESTION 23)
	(View responses)

21.	Has your railroad experienced any change in the HOS material inspected or audited as a direct result of the hours of services requirements covering freight railroads that took effect on July 16, 2009?
	(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)
		Yes
		No (GO TO QUESTION 23)
		Don't know (GO TO QUESTION 23)
	(View responses)

22.	What changes in hours of service records inspections or in the material inspected or audited has your railroad experienced?

	(View responses)

23.	Did you receive the following types of assistance from FRA in preparation for the implementation of hours of service requirements?

	(View responses)

		Yes	No	Don't know
	In-person meeting with FRA official (View responses)
	FRA presentation or training provided at an organization conference or meeting (View responses)
	Response from FRA official to a direct request for clarification (View responses)

24.	Which of the following additional steps, if any, would you like FRA to take in relation to hours of service requirements?

	(View responses)

		Yes	No
	Assist in developing an electronic record keeping system that functions within the regulatory requirements (View responses)
	Provide a Help desk function to answer questions (View responses)
	Provide training at a federal or nonfederal facility (View responses)

25.	Are you ready to submit your final completed survey to GAO? (This is equivalent to mailing a completed paper survey to us. It tells us that your answers are official and final.)
	(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)
		Yes, my survey is complete - To submit your final responses, please click on "Exit" below"
		No, my survey is not yet complete - To save your responses for later, please click on "Exit" below"
	(View responses)

	You may view and print your completed survey by clicking on the Summary link in the menu to the left.

	(View responses)

Questionnaire Programming Language - Version 6.1
U.S. Government Accountability Office

Questionnaire Programming Language

Purpose

RSIA Hours of Service Requirement Definitions

Changes Resulting from RSIA Hours of Service Requirements

Federal Role in RSIA Hours of Service Requirements

Menu

Summary

Help

Progress

Navigate