Archive for May 2018
Teen who started fire that burned 48,000 acres ordered to pay $36 million
(Source: CNN, May 21, 2018) ATLANTA — On Monday, an Oregon judge ordered the boy, who pleaded guilty to starting the Eagle Creek wildfire last year, to pay $36,618,330.24 in restitution to cover the damages. Of that, the Union Pacific Railroad is owed $1,048,877.52 in damages. Full story: CNN Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Read MoreBNSF setting volume records in Southwest Washington, system wide
(Source: The Columbian, May 21, 2018) COLUMBIA, Wash. — BNSF Railway shipments were at an all-time high during the first quarter of this year, the company reported, surpassing its record set in 2006. BNSF, which is also moving record numbers of trains through Southwest Washington, is adding employees. Full story: The Columbian Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Read MoreSupreme Court hands win to employers in arbitration cases
(Source: National Review, May 21, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court said Monday that employers can prevent employees from joining together to file class-action lawsuits through arbitration clauses in their contracts, dealing a blow to organized labor and upholding the Trump administration’s position on federal employment law. Full story: National Review Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Read MoreSurvey: Many ports need better rail access
(Source: Progressive Railroading 05/21/2018) In a recent survey, U.S. port authorities identified more than $20 billion in multimodal port and rail-access needs over the next decade, with a third of those citing pressing rail projects that cost at least $50 million, according to the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). In its “State of Freight III” report,…
Read MoreSTB: Class I workforce up slightly in mid-April
(Source: Progressive Railroading 05/21/2018) As of mid-April, U.S. Class Is employed 145,959 workers, up 0.59 percent since mid-March, but down 2.11 percent compared with April 2017, according to Surface Transportation Board data. All but one employment category — professional and administrative — reflected slight increases in the workforce on a month-over month basis. Categories that logged increases…
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