Pullout Tab

The main screen for pullout management is the Pullout tab, which is shown below. For instructions on how to modify its layout see Configuring the Screen Layout.

This tab shows each run piece scheduled for the day. In the Run column, myAvail displays an (R) to indicate relief run pieces and a (T) for tripper runs. For run pieces that are the first piece of a block, the table shows the scheduled check-in, scheduled login, and scheduled pullout time. myAvail calculates the scheduled check-in and scheduled login times using the scheduled pullout time in conjunction with configurable parameters for how many minutes before the pullout time the check-in and login should occur.

The tab also displays the operator assigned to that run, the vehicle assigned to that block, and the location of the vehicle in the yard. The tab can also be set to display the time the run piece will end (Pull In). This feature is helpful for displaying when an operator or vehicle will be available for unscheduled work. The status column indicates the status of the run piece, which is described below.

For relief run pieces, the Scheduled Pullout column displays the start time of the run piece. Not scheduled check-in or login times are displayed for relief run pieces. Relief runs are explained later in this section.

Tripper runs are created manually and are described in detail later in this guide.

Agency staff can configure the Pullout tab and control which columns are displayed, the width of the columns, and the order of the columns. For example, click the heading of a column, then drag and drop it  to a different order, such as Check In time, Check In box, MDT Login, Pullout. Please see Configuring the Screen Layout for detailed instructions.

The following columns are available for display:

The Select Columns button is below the Pullout table. When you select it, myAvail displays the list of columns that can be displayed in the Pullout table. You can uncheck the field to hide columns, as preferred. Also, use this control to determine whether your table displays dedicated time columns or shared columns for particular types of events, as described below. Alternatively, you can use the built-in filter to display and sort information: 

Filter Menu

Columns Menu               

myAvail displays both the scheduled times and actual times for Check In, Login, Pullout, and Pullin. In addition, Pullin has an estimated time. There are two ways you can display this information for each type of event. Display the scheduled, estimated, and actual times in:

• Separate, dedicated
• A single shared column. This column displays the different types of times at different points using a set of rules.

For example, if you want to use dedicated columns for Pullout, in the select columns list, check both Sch Pullout and Actual Pullout and uncheck Pullout. However, if you want to use a shared column, check Pullout and uncheck the other two columns.

The shared columns allow you to save horizontal space in your table by using one column to represent two or three columns of times. If you use shared columns, please note the following

appearance rules:

Hover over the grid to reveal the menu shown below:

White: Before the scheduled time Green: Actual check-in was on time Red: Scheduled time has expired, or passed Yellow: Actual check-in time was late

Checking in an Operator

Use the check-in checkbox in the Pullout Grid to check in an operator in real time. You can check this box after an operator reports in, too, by clicking directly in the filed and entering it. The Check In time records the current time in the Actual Check In and the combined Check In column. Then, tell the operator which vehicle they are assigned to and where that vehicle is located in the yard by referring to your Yard Map.

Before a check-in is to occur, the status displays “Waiting for Check In” as shown below. This alerts you that an operator should check in soon. This alert occurs a configurable number of minutes before the scheduled pullout time.

If an operator has not checked in within a configurable number of minutes after the scheduled check-in time, then myAvail highlights the combined Check In and Actual Check In cells in red. The Status column changes to Missed Check In and is highlighted red as shown in the eighth line below. This alerts you that someone has missed their check-in.

If you check in someone after their scheduled check-in time, myAvail records it as a late check-in by displaying a yellow check-in time as shown below.

If you check the check-in checkbox several minutes after the operator reports in, you can edit the actual check-in time by clicking in the combined Check In or Actual Check In cell and entering the correct check-in time.

Checking in an Extra-Board Operator

Since extra-board operators are not assigned to a run they will not display as assigned in the Pullout Grid. If an operator is designated as an extra-board operator in their ETMS personnel account, they will display as Extra-Board Operators in the Yard Map Grid tab shown in the bottom left of the screenshot below. The Check In checkbox and Check In Time columns work the same as in the Pullout Grid. When you check the Check In checkbox the current time is recorded in the Check In Time column. You can manually edit the Check In Time column if the time recorded is not the correct time.

Information about the Yard Map and the other lists in the Yard Map Grids tab is provided in the Yard Map section below.

Reassigning Operators and Vehicles

If an operator fails to check in or calls in sick, you can easily reassign the run to a different operator.

To reassign an operator: You have two options for managing this need: 1) Drag and drop method 2) type directly in the operator field to update the operator assignment

Drag & Drop Method from the Yard Map Grid: 

1. Use the drag and drop function- it's quick and easy! Click on the name of an extra board operator from the Yard Map grid, hold the cursor down, drag the name to the field for the operator swap needed, then release the cursor. The software will auto- assign this operator to the job:

Type Directly in the Field to Update it on the Pullout tab:

Scroll through the list to assign the operator you need, or start typing the first letters of the last name, to allow the software to filter on relevant names for you:

1. Select the operator to reassign for this run
2. Click elsewhere in the grid to save the change
3. You'll see an indicator in the bottom-right corner of the grid which indicates the update has been created

myAvail will automatically reassign all future pieces of this run to the operator that you selected. Past pieces of this same run have already been recorded/ will not be reassigned. If you assign this run piece to an extra-board operator who has already checked in, the Actual Check In time for this run piece is set to that operator’s check-in time.

To reassign a vehicle to a block:

1. In the pullout grid, click the Vehicle field that you want to change, and a drop-down list appears, as shown
   
2. Scroll through the list or start typing the vehicle that you
3. Click the vehicle that you want to reassign to this
4. Click elsewhere in the grid to indicate that you are myAvail displays a “Saving Changes” indicator in the bottom-right of the grid.

Alternatively, use the Yard Map’s drag-and-drop functionality to reassign vehicles. To use this method, do the following:

1. In the Yard Map, left click the vehicle that you want to reassign, and continue to hold down the mouse button.
2. While holding down the mouse button, drag the vehicle to the appropriate cell in the pullout
3. Release the left mouse

Using either method of reassigning vehicles, myAvail reassigns all future run pieces to the  vehicle that you just selected. Past pieces on the same block are not reassigned.

Create standard operator and vehicle assignments using the Operator Assignment and Vehicle Assignment tabs. The system automatically applies these assignments in the Pullout Grid every morning. If there is no typical operator or vehicle assignment, the Pullout Grid displays no operator or vehicle assignments initially. In this case, you must assign operators and/or vehicles to each run piece before the scheduled check-in time.

When a run piece does not have an operator or a vehicle assignment a configurable number of  minutes before the scheduled check-in time, myAvail displays a status of “Missing Operator Assignment” or “Missing Vehicle Assignment” and highlights the status field in red to indicate  that dispatch needs to make an assignment, as shown in the second line below.

Monitoring Login and Pullout

After operators check in, they should log into the vehicle to update the status. The Scheduled Login time is set as a configurable number of minutes before the Scheduled Pullout time.

When the operator logs into their vehicle, myAvail displays the login time in the Actual Login field. If the operator has not logged into their vehicle by the Scheduled Login time, the system highlights the fields in red and displays “Missed Login.” This status is shown in the screenshot above. If the operator logs in after this time, the login time is displayed in the Actual Login field and this field is highlighted in yellow. A missed login or late login can alert you to the potential for a missed or late pullout.

After an operator logs in, the status changes to Waiting for Pullout. The Scheduled Pullout time is the time indicated in the schedule data for the first stop of the run piece. When the vehicle departs this stop, the Actual Pullout Field displays the time of departure, and the status changes to On Time Pullout. The text in this row also changes to a grey color to indicate that this pullout is complete.

If the vehicle has not departed the first stop within a configurable number of minutes after the scheduled pullout time, the Actual Pullout field is highlighted red, and the status changes to Missed Pullout. The number of minutes after the scheduled time can be set to zero. If the vehicle departs the first stop after that time, the actual pullout time displays, the status changes to Late Pullout, and both the Actual Pullout and the Status fields are highlighted in yellow.

If a vehicle departs but the vehicle’s first stop report is not for the first stop of the run piece, the status changes to “On Route No Pullout”. This indicates that the vehicle is out on the route but myAvail did not detect the pullout. This can occur if the operator is not logged into the vehicle when he leaves the first stop or if there is a problem with either the schedule data or the trigger box data. However, at this point, myAvail considers the pullout to be complete because the vehicle is out on the block.

Relief Runs

Because relief runs often occur within just a couple of minutes, the system does not calculate or monitor them against a scheduled check-in or scheduled login time. However, there is still a scheduled pullout time for each relief run piece. This time is the departure from the first stop on that run piece. The status Upcoming Relief is displayed a configurable number of minutes before that time. If the vehicle departs this stop within a configurable number of minutes after the scheduled time, then the status field displays On Time Relief. If the vehicle does not depart  the stop within this time, the combined Pullout and Actual Pullout field is highlighted red and the status changes to Missed Relief. If the vehicle departs the first stop sometime after that time, the actual pullout time is displayed, the status changes to Late Relief, and the fields are highlighted in yellow. These statuses are shown below:

Missed Relief example

Late Relief example

Tripper Runs

In myAvail, a “tripper” is an additional vehicle assigned to an already active block of work. Use tripper runs in scenarios such as the following:

• Ridership of a given block of work normally exceeds the capacity of a single vehicle. Consequently, two vehicles are scheduled to run nose to tail.
• Ridership is running heavier than The second vehicle is sent out so the full vehicle can go into Discharge Only mode.
• A vehicle is behind schedule and dispatch sends another vehicle to cover a trip or two, which allows the regular vehicle to get back on

To create a “Tripper” pullout, right-click the row you want to duplicate

Click Create Duplicate in the context menu. The new entry appears without an operator or vehicle assignment, with a (T) after the Block, and the status of Tripper.