FRA Crew Management & Fatigue Rules 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the FRA Hours of Service law, what is the maximum number of hours a train employee may be on duty in any 24-hour period during a period of 7 consecutive days?
- 48 hours
- 60 hours (Correct answer)
- 56 hours
- 72 hours
Correct answer: 60 hours
FRA Hours of Service limits train employees to no more than 60 hours on duty in any period of 7 consecutive days.
Question 2: A train employee who has been on duty for 12 hours is required to receive a minimum off-duty period of how many hours before returning to service?
- 8 hours
- 10 hours (Correct answer)
- 12 hours
- 16 hours
Correct answer: 10 hours
After reaching the 12-hour on-duty limit, train employees must receive at least 10 consecutive hours off duty before returning to service.
Question 3: Which FRA regulation specifically governs fatigue management plans for railroad carriers?
- 49 CFR Part 217
- 49 CFR Part 228 (Correct answer)
- 49 CFR Part 218
- 49 CFR Part 240
Correct answer: 49 CFR Part 228
49 CFR Part 228 covers Hours of Service of Railroad Employees, including fatigue management plan requirements.
Question 4: What does the term 'limbo time' refer to in FRA Hours of Service regulations?
- Time spent waiting for a connecting train at a terminal
- Time an employee is held away from home terminal awaiting transportation (Correct answer)
- Unpaid break time during a shift
- Time between the end of one assignment and the start of another
Correct answer: Time an employee is held away from home terminal awaiting transportation
Limbo time refers to the period when a train employee, after relieving from duty, is waiting at a location away from the home terminal for transportation back.
Question 5: Under FRA rules, a railroad's fatigue management plan must be updated at minimum every how many years?
- 1 year
- 2 years (Correct answer)
- 3 years
- 5 years
Correct answer: 2 years
FRA regulations require railroads to review and update their fatigue management plans at least every two years.
Question 6: Which of the following activities counts as 'time on duty' for a train employee under 49 CFR Part 228?
- Sleeping in a provided bunk car while the train moves
- Deadheading as a passenger to an assignment
- Waiting at a location at the carrier's direction (Correct answer)
- Off-site meal breaks longer than 30 minutes
Correct answer: Waiting at a location at the carrier's direction
Waiting at a location at the carrier's direction counts as on-duty time because the employee is under the carrier's control.
Question 7: If a train is en route and a crew member reaches the Hours of Service limit, what is the railroad's primary obligation under FRA regulations?
- Allow the crew member to continue until reaching the next crew-change point regardless of time
- Immediately stop the train and remove the employee from service
- Relieve the employee as soon as possible without undue delay (Correct answer)
- Have the employee rest onboard for 4 hours then resume
Correct answer: Relieve the employee as soon as possible without undue delay
When an employee reaches the hours of service limit en route, the railroad must relieve them as soon as possible without undue delay.
FRA Crew Management & Fatigue Rules 2
Under the FRA Hours of Service law, what is the maximum number of hours a train employee may be on duty in any 24-hour period during a period of 7 consecutive days?