I have 4 years clean from UPS.
UPS is a hell of a drug lol
Looking back, I was definitely the easy target being the youngest driver in the center. I would’ve done things differently if I had the life experience I have now. What would I do today? Not put any unscanned on the belt. No special instructions. Carry the 340 methods with me at all times in my lunch box. Read it thoroughly every time there’s even a *suggestion* of being directed to work outside of the prescribed methods. Even during qualifying, although I might not have even scratched once and they let me through the packet. Maybe because I was an easy target and they wanted that
Definitely helps that on the railroad, you are required to be tested for integrity and vigilance (Good faith Challenge). Every year, they put out a “Banner” on the tracks for each crew member to see if they are paying attention. It’s FRA mandated; the banner could be a red flag, a sudden red signal, or even an actual large white banner with “STOP OBSTRUCTION AHEAD” written in huge red font.
Yardmaster (union, not management) Will always try and get you to do something stupid. “Leave that car in the foul, it’s OK”
“Don’t line in the interlocking normal after you’re done, I have another shove following”
“Insert ridiculous stupid
here“
Union conductors correct response: “No. Get a train master“
“Call trainmaster or higher authority I’m not doing it“
“No, this is Patrick. And please get a TM”
Story has it one time there was no Trainmaster available or terminal supervisor so they had the division manager of the entire northern region drive to the yard, and he shakes the conductors hand and tells him “That was a test. You passed. Good man“