Stephen

Also lets say I took a bid out of Capital to be a Dual Rate Track Inspector. Now I'm a D/R Track Inspector and 4 months later the bid sheet comes out with my old spot in Capital. You cannot bid on your old spot, you'd have to pick something else in Capital or wherever it was you were at. I used that example because that actually happened to someone I know, and he didn't realize you couldn't bid back to your old spot.

Bid sheets are jobs that were not either filled at the pick, people who've changed titles, and or retired, or got fired from transit. Sometimes they add jobs that weren't at the pick. Basically how it works is you have a separate " Specialist " bid sheet for full rate titles, followed after that, usually a few days are the "Trackworker" and "Dual Rate" bid sheets. Basically how it works is whatever jobs someone picks if they should happen to get it, their job will go out to bid when the next bid sheet comes out. The cycle keeps repeating until the next general pick. But how it works is you can only bid on anything from your seniority number all the way up until number 1 For example: Lets say my seniority number is 1500 I can only bid on jobs listed from 1499 and up, I can't bid on anything listed below my seniority number. Though I've heard of mishaps, and that's when folks start filing grievances. There is a guy in my quarters his number is in the 1500s and he bid on a Wetsaw spot that was in the 1800s. He actually put in for it not realizing the person who had that job, their seniority number was in the 1800s. When the results came he won the bid, but it was realized his seniority number was above the requirement, and he didn't get the spot. Having a class A license is great, getting into fleet though won't happen right away. It'll take a few years, but if you see a Dual Rate Specialist Chauffeur spot at Linden on a bid sheet put in for it. You never know you just might get it. EDIT: You also get roughly 2 weeks from the time the bids appear to put in for what you want. Takes about another week or two for the results depending on how many jobs were listed.

I actually could have gotten capital days off of the last bid sheet that came out. As far as the pick I won't get your hopes up, but anything is possible. You'd have a better shot at days with a bid sheet. If you see days spots put in for them all, you never know, and you might just get one. Now as far as staying days, I would say a minimum of 6-10 years on the job as far as not getting picked out of your spot, or days in general. I actually work with a guy who has like 13-14 years on the job. He was capital days straight out of school, and was able to pick back for his first 6 years on the job. Then a whole bunch of senior capital nights guys decided to go days, and he was picked right out of his spot, and forced to pick capital nights. Which in the end worked out better for him anyway.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Good luck to all of the incoming classes. I'll be starting my 3rd year this upcoming March. The general pick is coming soon, and as far and what most of you will be able to pick, will be cleaning gangs (unfortunately). My seniority number is in the 1500's, I jumped up close to 300 numbers since i was hired. The bottom number in the seniority list is 1857. It'll probably be close to 2000 come pick time. A CDL could help you at the pick but it's no guarantee. I have a class A license with no restrictions, and I'm a Dual Rate Spec Operator in Capital Nights. I was lucky to get capital out of school, and my class actually made the end of the last general pick in 2016. On the bright side you have the bid sheets, and those come out roughly every 4 months after the pick. There you could bid out of cleaning if you don't like it. Even in capital we get stuck cleaning allot because of the new initiative. In reality no matter where you go in the hole, you wont escape it. The only titles that actually will never clean are truck drivers, and crane operators. It's a great job, just pass your probation, you'll see allot of stuff you'll like and won't like. Don't worry about the moves others make, just worry about yourself and work as safe as possible. Trust me when I tell you, there are allot of idiot foreman down here. I come from a heavy construction background. Learn the job, learn from senior men that know the job. Allot of these foreman are only concerned with numbers. If you feel something being done is unsafe don't be afraid to speak. In the end you have to worry about your life and safety, because no one else will. There was a recent accident where a guy got his leg broken installing CWR, I don't know the specifics on how it happened, but I'm sure foreman stupidity contributed allot to it. In my 2 years going into my 3rd, I've had 25 stitches in my knee, broken middle finger, and many busted finger nails which grow out, while not missing a day of work. It's the nature of the environment you will get dinged up, unless you're a flat out bum that doesn't do shit. Just try to avoid the catastrophic injuries, or situations that can cause them. FYI, CWR is 390 ft lengths of rail ( strings ). 100lb string weighs 13,000 lbs, 115 lb string weighs 14,950 lbs. You'll either install it manually with hooks, or now we use the TRT machine to install it. Regardless it's one of the most dangerous things you'll do down there. Those strings whip like a snake. Installing is dangerous, dropping them off a CWR train is even more dangerous. On that note guys, good luck, and welcome.

I kinda figured they would have had a class full of people off of medical holds, and people who had their names reinstated. As far as class sizes it varies. I know in the beginning they had a few classes with over 40 people, but the average is around 20-30. My class had 28. All depends on the needs of transit. As far as certifications, when you're on an outstanding certification it means transit has your information, and is gearing up to process an incoming class or classes. Not on an outstanding certification is the opposite, meaning they have all the candidates they need for the moment, and will put you back on outstanding certification, when they're ready to process another round of candidates. Sent from my iPhone using NYC Transit Forums mobile app

Honestly Figs two things will either happen. Depending on your situation, and why you can't make it. Either she'll work with you, or you'll have to reinstate your name to the list, to be called in at a later date. If I were you, and if your situation isn't family emergency related I would attend today. If you do go in and pass medical, with your 21 page booklet being in order, you would have been hired today. Medical holds can set people back 2 classes or more. I know of one person who initially turned down the job, to have their name reinstated at a later date. That person was one class in front of me, but should have been in the very first track class off of the list. I was in the 5th class off of the list, with a number range in the 450-500. That person was in the 1-50 range. Bottom line is the longer you delay, the more seniority you loose, and seniority is everything as far as the ability to pick job locations, dual rate titles etc. Sent from my iPhone using NYC Transit Forums mobile app

In case anyone was wondering when the next Track class starts, it's Monday February 6th. I'm at PS 248 ( Transit Training Center ) today taking a heavy equipment class, and one of the Track school instructors confirmed the first class of the year. He also mentioned the class was small only around 18-20 people. Sent from my iPhone using NYC Transit Forums mobile app

First letter I received in Sept 2015, second letter I received towards the end of January 2016. February 8th 2016 I got the email for medical, and final processing ( still have it ) and I was sworn in Feb 10th 2016.

Yep, you'll have to fill out your pre-employment packet all over again besides taking another drug test. It's 90 days for both, I had to do the pre-employment screening twice as well before i was hired.

I meant for the drug testing, and pre-employment paperwork.

+ 1 for this as well, sorry Kunderwood but like others I'm not repeating myself either. All the info you need is in this thread. Literally every topic and concern is covered. As far as your list number I would say realistically 50/50 shot at being called. The list expires December 17th 2018, they are up to 944 as the last appointed list number. Which I would assume they could up to the high 1000's or low 1100's for medical. If the list gets extended which most do your chances of getting called for processing increases. I know off of the last exam 5016, the last appointed was in the low 2000's, I actually work with a guy who was one of the last to be appointed off of the 5016 exam.

86th and 4th ave is a maintenance gang, it's in the pick book and there is a quarters there. I just bidded into Union Square (Capital) in October, and it was a mission to find this place (with phone directions from the mailman lol). I was at 16th and 8th (Capital) and that's an easy quarters to find. Some quarters are basically hidden in plain sight, just start knocking on every door you see, eventually one will open.

Not the same day, it was about a 2 week wait for the e-mail for medical and final processing. As far as the drug test results, some say 30 days, some say 90, assume it's for 30 though. Medical, and pre-employment paperwork is valid for 90 days.

First time I wasn't called for medical, I missed the cut off point, so 4 months after my first urine, I was sent a letter for a second drug test. From that point on it took them 2 weeks to email me for medical and final processing. From looking where you're at, you'll probably be taking a second drug test as well. Bottom line it's a waiting game, some wait more than others.

Also, if the time exceeds 90 days from your first encounter with MTA HR, you'll have to do the urine test, medical, and also hand in your pre-employment paperwork in again when they send you a second letter to come back in to repeat step 1 of the process. I had to this due to the fact my first drug test, and pre-employment encounter with MTA HR was 9/2015, I was sent a second pre-employment letter at the end of January 2016, to start the process again, which exceeded the 90 days.

I put down everything going all of the way back to elementary school, but my interviewer told me college and high school was sufficient enough. It never hurts to be overly honest, my opinion it's better to disclose everything.

You have to go to 180 Livingston for more employment history pages. Same place on the 5th floor. To make it easier for you so you don't have to ask around I'll tell you where they are. When you get to the 5th floor make the left out of the elevator, then another left to the main area where you waited to hand in your pre-employment package. Once you're in that room look towards your left, over where the corridor to the bathroom is you will see on the wall with numerous forms on a rack, there it will have extra sheets for almost anything you need to include in your 21 page packet. If there are no more employment history sheets, just ask someone at the desk to make some copies for you. Also if you need extra job history pages for your pre-employment package (not the 21 page CPD-B), you'll have to ask someone at the desk to help you out with those, as I do not recall seeing those with the rest of the forms that were on the form rack on the wall, in the same area which I described above. Good luck man. Also riello, you have to go to the Social Security office for the detailed printout not the Dept of Labor. The detailed printout will have the names and addresses of your previous employers going back forever. It does cost allot. That will also help because you can contact them for the time periods you worked there. The printout online only gives yearly totals, and what your SS income would be in the event you retired or became disabled.

If I recall the social security printout for everywhere I ever worked beyond 10 years was around $125.00. But as others have stated all they need is the month and year. But leave no gaps in your history. If you did not work you must put how you supported yourself, whether it was unemployment insurance, living at home being supported by family etc. As far as self employment, if you filed taxes on that income you can put it down as well. But you have to account for every month going all of the way back to high school. My 21 page packet was over 35 pages when it was all said and done.

I would still go to the courthouses you were convicted in, and get the dispositions just to make sure your record is sealed. It should be stamped 160.50 or 160.55 under NYS CPL. Jersey I'm not too sure of, but if it was thrown out you should be fine, but also get the paperwork confirming it. You can also do a NYS CHRS background check on yourself, which is the same one Transit uses besides the FBI background check. Also go to the DMV, and have them look in the system to make sure there aren't any old fines you forgot to pay. http://www.nycourts.gov/APPS/chrs/onlinedirectaccess.shtml

So you got a full book as a Cement Laborer, 6A is a good job. I was a Local 40 Ironworker for 15 years, but I'll be honest with you, you will make less as far as an hourly rate here. But in the long run you'll be making allot more, and it's consistent. Plus you have a city pension, and lifetime health coverage. The construction unions aren't what they used to be, right now the building boom is good, but it's going to slow down, and when it does it can last for years. My best year as an Ironworker I made over 190k, the following year I barely broke 50k. With Transit you have stability, having peace of mind in this day in age is what you want over anything. I still pay my dues and maintain my Ironworker book. I was hesitant to leave as well. But in the end you do what makes you happy.

Dave it's 2 days of orientation, roughly 2 weeks in the classroom (PS248), and 4 weeks of yard posting. For the yard posting you'll either go to East 180th in the Bronx, or either 38th st yard, or Coney Island Yard in Brooklyn. But during those 4 weeks, you'll also be going for your fire evacuation training, respirator fitting, and a whole day of getting taught crane signals. You'll also get your flagging posting assignments while in school, but you won't start the actual flagging training until the 6 weeks of initial training is finished. With us they split the class into 3 groups. Flagging school is 9 days (Mon-Fri), and each group goes separately. Depending on which group you're placed in, you could either start flagging school a week after you finish training, or you'll have to wait a few weeks if your in one of the other 2 groups. So technically it's about 8 weeks of training, 6 weeks of classroom and yard posting, 2 weeks of flagging school. Good luck you should do fine. If you have Dundas and Spezzano for your instructors at PS 248, you guys will be good to go.

That's not a promotion to Trackworker, it's the promotional test for Track Foreman MS1. MS = Maintenance Supervisor.

To answer your first question "yes" MTA has all of the currently certified candidates information. To answer your second question, the letter you will receive will be to come in for the drug test. Once you're at Livingston you'll get your 21 page CPD-B packet to fill out to bring back when you come in for final processing. The e-mail is for medical and final processing, as long as you don't get jammed up with a medical hold you will be sworn in shortly after medical, and receive all of the books you need for school, fill out some more paperwork, get fingerprinted, and get your photo taken for your Metrocard PASS.

Disappear ? I'll tell you what, if and when you get down here you'll see how busy you're going to be. Are you expecting a day by day account of what life is like on the tracks ? Again, you'll find out when you get here, we all found out certain realities on our own when we got down here. As far as how the hiring process goes, read the thread, it hasn't changed since they called number 1 off of the list. And there are a handful of people who drop in from time to time to contribute such as myself.

The list expires on December 17th 2018, just listen to the entire automated DCAS message, when calling up for list information.