tennesseeflyboy

The secondary line construction HELPFUL HINTS ON INPUTS pages leaves much to be desired. They do not acknowledge that the VTO worksheet only holds about four trips/dates sets of values before you have to go onto the next priority line ................ what a mess.
Is there any suggestions on what NOT to put into the VTO worksheet lines in order to get the most effectiveness ?
I have heard that if you have a series of same trips on the same line in different dates range, and if you cannot hold one of those days in the same priority line, the whole thing will be erased (?)
Depending on your seniority I would offer that 16 lines of priority to select available trips from the open time list is not enough due to the limited space of the priority lines.

KnightFlyer

not sure tfb, but the good news for the co. is all they have to do for PIBS instructions is change the title.

Adlerdriver

If you put a series of trips on the same line, you are saying you'll take any ONE of those trips and giving them equal priority. That input is not viewed as "I'll take all of these trips if they're still available when my secondary line gets processed". In other words, it thinks it gave you your first choice if it's able to award you just one of the trips on your first input and will not attempt to award you them all. If the system can award only one of the trips you input on the same line, it will. It's not like the monthly makeup inputs where each line is a complete bid and you must get all of what's on that line or you get nothing.

If you're trying to input a series of trips that mesh together over a particular period: You would be better off putting all the trips that would work as trip #1 on the same space as your first input, those that work for your second trip in the next and so on. Hopefully, at least one in each spot is available when it's your turn to get processed so you don't end up with an inconvenient gap.

In my opinion, if you're not in the top 10% of secondary lineholders, I would spend more time on days off desired and/or generic trip criteria than specific trips (especially with the shorter trips). Maybe use the first 5-10 input lines for specific trips and then make sure you detail when you want to work/be off and what kinds of trips you want.

USMCFDX

I was once told by MS that I put too many individual trips on my VTO request. Tell me where it says that. He said it takes too much time for him to input them.

Adlerdriver

From the instructions available on the secondary worksheet page 1:

Limit requests to no more than ten trip/date combinations.

DLax85

And remember, the current VTO process is too small for them to fix

Gunter

You get statements like "the system will do this" and "the system won't recognize that" from secondary scheduler responses to inquiries. Which are typically not via e-mail so they can't be held to the info. What they really mean is they don't like our request. How dare we make extra work for them.

All these years and the secondary schedulers still contradict each other.

Facts -

1) There is a software program that spits out secondary lines.

2) You fill out a request sheet.

3) The secondary scheduler reviews your input, interprets it and inputs what they think you want (or what they think is proper and acceptable per the CBA) into the program.


No one has ever explained to me why we don't get a copy of the secondary scheduler input into the program. When a relevant manager speaks of transparency I can't believe anything else they have to say.

The Walrus

Where is that in the contract?

Adlerdriver

You'll need to take that up with the MFWIC when this process came to be, long before I was hired. I'm just telling you what rules they seem to use - not that I think it's right or properly implemented.

Reserve rules and secondary line stuff are for junior guys - those details don't seem to get as much attention or scrutiny come contract time as important stuff like VEBA, retirement or grid penalties.