Federal law caps a train or engine employee at 12 hours on duty, after which the employee must get at least 10 hours of undisturbed rest. Time spent waiting for a ride after the 12 hours run out, called limbo time, is limited too, and monthly totals are capped. Running out of hours strands trains across the network every day and makes dog catching a regular part of road railroading.
Our hours of service are up at 1430, so if they hold us in the hole at Brule another hour, we're done.
Also heard as
- HOS
- the law
- hours of service law
Related terms
Dead on the law
Out of legal working hours under the hours of service rule, and required to stop work wherever the train sits.
Dog catch
To relieve a crew that has run out of legal hours; the relief crew are the dog catchers.
Tie up
To go off duty at the end of a trip or shift and record the final time.
Call
The notice telling a crew member when and where to report for duty.