PAYROLL GUIDELINES FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER TRAINEES

Workweek Defined and Weekly Guarantee Rates

• The Locomotive Engineer Trainee (LET) workweek begins on Saturday and ends the following Friday. During this seven day period, LET’s are entitled to one (1) 24-hour "Rest Day," and are required to be properly rested, available, and subject to call six days out of every seven. For each day an LET fails to be "available" to work, the pro rata daily rate (1/16 of the weekly guarantee rate) may be deducted from the guarantee. The weekly guarantee rate for a LET in the first six months of training is $740.00 and is claimed using miscellaneous claim code "EF." See Examples 1 and 2 below.

• LET’s in their second six months of training are paid Fireman’s Rate at whatever percentage their current rate of pay is at. The weekly guarantee rate for a LET in the second six months of training is $791.54 and is claimed using miscellaneous claim code "EG." Such claim need only be made if the LET’s pay (excluding meals/mileage) for the week is less than $831.48.

Overtime

• LET’s are entitled to overtime after 48 hours. Overtime is calculated by the total number of hours worked (actual on-duty time) in six days and deadhead time counts also in a 7 day period. LET overtime is claimed using miscellaneous claim code "EO." LET’s in the first six months of training who work more than 48 hours in six days in a workweek, should submit two claims for that week: (1) "EF" for his/her weekly guarantee, and (2) "EO" for his/her overtime. See Example No. 3.

• LET’s in their second six months of training are paid overtime after eight hours and a separate claim for overtime is no longer necessary.

Working a Seventh Consecutive Day 

• LET’s are entitled to an additional pro-rata day for working 8 hours (or less) on a seventh consecutive day. The pro rata daily rate for a LET in the first six months of training who works a seventh consecutive day is $123.33 and is claimed using miscellaneous claim code "EA." See Example No. 4.

• The pro rata daily rate for a LET in the second six months of training who works a seventh consecutive day is $138.58 and is claimed using miscellaneous claim code "EA." Such claim need only be made if the LET’s pay (excluding meals/mileage) for the week is less than $970.06.

Working 48 Hours (or Less) in the First Six Days and More Than Eight Hours on a Seventh Consecutive Day 

• LET’s in the first six months of training who work 48 hours (or less) in the first six days of a week, work a seventh consecutive day, and work more than eight hours on that seventh consecutive day, should submit two claims for that week: (1) "EF" for his/her weekly guarantee, and (2) "EA" for his/her additional pro rata day. The seventh day will be paid at the pro rata rate of $123.33 PLUS overtime after eight hours. See Example 5 below.

• LET’s in their second six months of training are paid actual time worked (with overtime after eight hours) and actual mileage each trip, so such claim need only be made if the LET’s pay (excluding meals/mileage) for the week is less than $970.06.

Working More than 48 Hours in the First Six Days and More than Eight Hours on a Seventh Consecutive Day 

• LET’s in the first months of training who work more than 48 hours in the first six days of a week, work a seventh consecutive day, and work more than eight hours on that seventh consecutive day, should submit three claims for that week: (1) "EF" for his/her weekly guarantee, (2) "EO" for his/her overtime, and (3) "EA" for his/her additional pro rata day. The seventh day will be paid at the pro rata rate of $123.33 PLUS overtime after eight hours. See Example 6 below.

• LET’s in their second six months of training are paid actual time worked (with overtime after eight hours) and actual mileage each trip, so such claim need only be made if the LET’s pay (excluding meals/mileage) for the week is less than $970.06.

Working as Brakeman or Conductor While Training

• LET’s who are called as a brakeman or conductor are entitled to their weekly LET guarantee PLUS whatever pay is earned while working as a brakeman or conductor for any/all such trip(s), both first and second six month LET’s. All pay during the first six months LET is at 100% LET rate of pay.

Meals

• LET’s in the first six months of training are entitled to meals when working an assignment over 30 miles from the "home" terminal and such claims should be submitted using miscellaneous claim code "AD."

• LET’s in the second six months of training are also entitled to meals, but claim for such may be made on the end-of-trip tie-up screen.

Lodging

• LET’s are entitled to company-provided lodging when working an assignment over 30 miles from the "home" terminal throughout their training period.

Personal Automobile Mileage

• LET’s are entitled to personal automobile mileage (one way) TO an away from home terminal and (one way) FROM the away from home terminal while working an assignment away from their home terminal but only when the company DOES NOT provide transportation (i.e. – taxi, company vehicle, etc.). This applies throughout the training period. Such claims should be submitted using miscellaneous claim code "AE." If the LET chooses to drive to and from the assignment each day rather than stay in company provided lodging, he/she will do so at his/her own expense. The mileage to and from an away from home assignment is only paid one time. You may be there six days but mileage is only paid one time unless you have authority to do otherwise from a Carrier Officer.

Arbitraries

• LET’s are NOT entitled to detention time ("DE"), deadheads ("DS"), or any/all other arbitraries (i.e. – used off assigned territory ("UA"), lapback ("LB or LH"), etc.) throughout the training period. However, time consumed will count toward overtime if you exceed 48 hours for first six months LET or over 8 hours if second six months LET.

Rate of pay

• The step rate of pay for LET’s is "frozen" during the first six months of training, for trainee pay and conductor/brakeman pay but is resumed thereafter.

Example 1 worked 48 hours all week and was available six days, while Example 2 worked 16 hours all week but was available four days.

In Example 1, the LET will receive his/her full weekly guarantee of $740.00, because he/she was "available" six days out of seven and worked 48 hours (or less).

In Example 2, the LET will not receive his/her full weekly guarantee of $740.00 because he/she was only "available" four days out of seven and worked 48 hours (or less). The LET in this example WOULD NOT be compensated for Sunday or Monday because he/she did not place themselves in time to go with his/her assignment. The LET WOULD, however, be compensated for Tuesday and Thursday because he/she was in place with his/her assignment. The LET in example No. 2 would receive $493.32.

Example 3 worked 66 hours all week and was available six days, Example 4 worked 56 hours all week, and was available seven days

In example No. 3, the LET will receive his/her full weekly guarantee of $740.00 because he/she was "available" six days out of seven and will receive overtime for the 18 hours in excess of the guaranteed 48 hours @ $23.12 per hour.

In example No. 4, the LET will receive his/her full weekly guarantee of $740.00 because he/she was "available" six days out of seven and worked 48 hours (or less). The seventh day would not be used to calculate overtime for the week, but would be compensated for at the additional pro rata daily rate of $138.58. The LET in example No. 2 would receive $863.31.

Example 5 worked 58 hours all week and was available seven days. Example 6 Worked 78 hours all week and was available seven days.

In example No. 5, the LET will receive his/her full weekly guarantee of $740.00 because he/she was "available" six days out of seven and worked 48 hours (or less), will be compensated at the additional pro rata daily rate of $123.33 for the seventh consecutive day, and receive overtime for the two hours in excess of eight for the seventh consecutive day. The LET in example No. 2 would receive $863.31 PLUS 2 hours of overtime.

In example No. 6, the LET will receive his/her full weekly guarantee of $740.00 because he/she was "available" six days out of seven and worked more than 48 hours, will be compensated at the additional pro rata daily rate of $123.33 for the seventh consecutive day, and receive overtime for the 18 hours in excess of 48 for the first six days and overtime for the four hours in excess of eight for the seventh consecutive day. The LET in example No. 2 would receive $863.31 PLUS 22 hours of overtime.

ALWAYS be certain that you are included on your crew’s time ticket and either tie yourself up or be certain that your conductor ties you up correctly. All claims for pay must be submitted using the correct payroll codes and in a timely manner so as to ensure that your pay is correct. The preceding information is provided only to assist you in understanding your pay and in no way supersedes or limits your contractual rights. Contact you local chairman if you have further questions.

Effective date of all rates of pay is January 1, 2001.

This page last updated: 04/10/2001