I think a while back we started calling them "secondary lines" and got rid of the "VTO" designation, FWIW.

I usually have a similar experience to BB. I get a secondary in the top 5. I bid for specific trips (individually, one per line). After that, I put in days off desired (no more than two blocks) and finish with "commuter line". For Nov I got my second choice because my first choice was taken in the CIC bid.

When I was in MEM and getting a secondary in the bottom 10%, I still had pretty good luck getting what I wanted. However, what I wanted was realistic. It was probably going to be reserve days with an occasional trip. So, I didn't bother with trip specific inputs and just put in the days off I wanted (usually just one block, no more than two). I almost always got what I asked for.

If you have realistic expectations, input criteria based on those realistic expectations and use the .pdf guide to secondary inputs available on the worksheet page, I have found it is possible to get okay results. YMMV

What needs to be fixed with this whole process is the CIC bids need to be complete before secondary inputs are due. We need to be able to input trips that will actually be available when it's time to build the secondaries. My first few choices are almost always gone after the CIC process.

Oh, and no PBS!!