If a train engineer has 2 dwi's on his record can he still operate a locomotive?

Question

If a train engineer has 2 dwi's on his record can he still operate a locomotive?

Answer 1

BNSF............if we have a license we can operate.  And YES you are required to have a valid drivers license in order to be an engineer, not to mention the training and certifications you have to get from the FRA to get an engine license.  BNSF would more than likely suspend the engineer until the outcome of his court..and send him through rehab.........if they didn't fire him.  Once he loses his drivers license...his engine license is gone too.

Answer 2

sure he is working not driving

Answer 3

Maybe.  What kind of license do you need to run a locomotive?  I doubt if there is one.  There are regulations on qualifications, though, and government mandated hours of service and drug testing.  Might depend on the employer.

Answer 4

I don't know about KCS, but if you have the DWI before you are hired, you won't get the job.  If this happened after you're hired, on CSX at least, you can apply to Operation Red Block.  It will take you out of service for a bit, but they get you counselling and/or rehab, and I know of engineers that have gone through this and are still working.

Answer 5

I would believe that if the railroad found out about it he would be terminated,

Answer 6

If an engineer gets a dwi, he is legally required to notify the employing railroad and the FRA.  

Because he is in a union (BLET or UTU), he would most likely not be terminated, but would enter his employer's rehab program.  

He would have his engineer's liscense revoked while he was awaiting a hearing, if he were to appeal the dwi, and pending the outcome was in his favor, would get it back.  

His employent would continue, most likely as a demoted engineer, and he would work as a conductor.  

He would only be reinstated as an engineer after completion of his company's rehab program and reinstatement of his driver's liscense.  If , however, his driver's liscecse wasnt revoked, and he was allowed to drive for work, he would be allowed to continue operating the train, but would still be in the rehab program.

Since we are talking about 2 dwi's, though, he probably hasnt complied with the law requiring notification of the employing railroad and the FRA.  If that is the case, then the FRA would more than likely revoke his engineer's liscence based solely on his non-compliance, and his company could legally terminate his employment.  His union, however, would more than likely suceed in getting him employment as a conductor.

This is all providing the dwi's are recieved while he is an engineer.  Conductors are forced to engine school.  If they had resolved  dwi's on their driving record, they would still be forced to be an engineer.

Answer 7

not to derail but can some one point me out the ruling that states specifically (fra rule) that you can not hold a engineers card and have a suspended or no drivers lic.

i am aware of being pulled from service do to dui's but unless there is a recent law ( like the last 2 yrs or less) then you can have a eng. crad with out a drivers lic

i know this only cause my brother in obtaining his class 3 had a civil judgement against his drivers lic. and we where still able to get a card for him.(this was a with a bit of research and double checking with the fra)while a larger class 1 railroad might have an in house policy on having a drivers lic i do not believe having one is required by fra law (excpet in  the cases of suspension due to drug/alcohol).

really im curious if they changed the law really? or apllies to class 1 only maybe?

Answer 8

It would depend entirely on the rules of the employer.