When are they going to realize that to save fuel they should give the CN more control and stop with the micromanagement. Not once have I ever heard a CN say "I would like more but that is what is planned so we will go with that". On many, in fact too many to count occasions I have heard "that alternate/rec extra seems a bit over the top but I am happy with it if that's what they want".
If they want to save fuel give the CN free reign with it, absolute choice in alternate and rec extra. The savings would be huge.