THE TRANSIT EXTRABOARD: SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR COST SAVING

Using a survey sample, it is estimated that there could be a $50 million annual saving for the U.S. transit industry through improved manpower planning and extraboard sizing. While constraints of labor agreements and reluctance of transit operator to work overtime tend to increase manpower requirements it is argued that high costs being incurred should induce management action. Without impairing safety or quality of service, it is claimed that the operators roster can be reduced to a practical or political size, if not the most efficient. Vehicle availability must also be examined, since it is uneconomical to have a staff bigger than the fleet of vehicles ready for service. In collective bargaining, work rules that should come in for special attention are those that restrict overtime work, reductions in force, and use of part-time operations. Absenteeism is the primary factor which influences extraboard size and methods of controlling this situation are described.