United States Department of Transportation
i
Optimizing Staffing levels and Schedules for Railroad Dispatching Centers
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2004-09-01
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[PDF-1.04 MB]
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Edition:Final Report, 12/99-02/01
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Abstract:This report presents the results of a study to explore approaches to establishing staffing levels and schedules for railroad dispatchers. The
work was conducted as follow-up to a prior study that found fatigue among dispatchers, particularly those who worked permanent night
shifts. The present study had four objectives: 1) document current industry practices, 2) assess impact of current schedules on dispatcher
fatigue, 3) develop methodology for establishing staffing levels, 4) develop alternative scheduling strategies.
Through site visits to six dispatching operations, current industry approaches to dispatcher staffing and scheduling were documented. All
six sites have three categories of jobs: regular, relief and extra board. Staffing levels are established through experience and management
judgment. All of these sites use schedules that are categorized as non self-relieving 3-crew systems with a relief crew.
The Relief Factor Formulas (RFF), the shift relief factor and the optimal staffing formula, are suggested as alternative methods for
establishing staffing levels at dispatching centers. These methods compute an objective staffing level based on management criteria and
historical data for “not at work days.” Staffing projections using the RFF assume that absences are equally likely to occur on any day of
the week or season of the year so it is possible that there will be a limited number of days when overtime may be necessary.
Current dispatcher schedules have a number of possible problems with regard to dispatcher fatigue and quality of work life. Alternative
scheduling strategies that can relieve these are the following: A) Create a three crew self-relieving system, B) Allow fixed weekday shift
for senior dispatchers and rotate days off for remaining positions, C) Assign relief dispatchers to a single shift and use extra board to cover
unplanned vacancies on a single shift, D) Convert weekends to two 12-hr shifts. All of these options have the potential to reduce fatigue
and ease the burden for schedulers who must fill last-minute vacancies.
15. NUMBER OF PAGES
103
14. SUBJECT TERMS
railroad dispatcher, staffing level, schedule design, scheduling system
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