BNSF Railcar Repair (Carman) question...?

Question

My husband is thinking applying for a position with Burlington Northern/Santa Fe as a "carman," doing railcar inspection, repair, and rebuilding. (http://www.bnsf.com/careers/jobs.html for more info)

He'd be apprenticing, by the way.

I'm concerned that he'll be gone all the time, work crazy hours, that I and our two daughter will never see him, etc. How is this job as far as schedule goes? Any answers and help are greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

I was a carman for the Port Terminal Railroad (Hou, TX).  Very good job, regular 8 hours a day, five days a week.  He won't see weekends, holidays or a daylight job for a while, but still a good job!!

Answer 2

He will have a much more reliable job than someone in train service.

He may very well start out working nights but he will be assigned regular shifts in a 40 hour work week.

Relax, those are good jobs.

Answer 3

It is one of the crafts that work regular shifts, days, afternoons and nights, and usually in the same terminal.  Unlikely he'll be gone for long absences, except for perhaps in the case of being out cleaning up a derailment, but even that doesn't take longer than two or three days, as a rule.

Answer 4

carmen usually work reqular scheduled shifts.  If i am not mistaken they work 8 hour shifts. (if i am wrong then it is 12 hours)

If you can stand to have him make more money eventually with better hours (still possibility of on call 24/7/365 you should look into conductor)  I have been working for BNSF for almost 3 years now and with going through training twice (once for conductor, the second time for engineer... both of which average $750 per week) i have still managed to gross over 60k per year.... last year if i had stayed working could have been a 75k year, and the highest paid individuals out between Amarillo, TX, and Needles, CA have the potential to make in excess of 100k per year.

From what i can tell by what the carmen do here (in Tulsa) is mostly brake tests on the trains, ride a 4-wheeler around, and at the 'rip' tracks tear apart broken railcars, and re-assemble them to their proper working order.  They ARE outside in ALL WEATHER conditions.  he will need good insulated coveralls and coat (gloves are provided, sometimes stocking caps are also) for either job that he works.  Steel-toed boots are required and the company has a 80%/20% compensation program for the boots where 20% is paid by the employee.  I don't use the program because Dr. Martins are not 'approved'  footwear, and i do not like the quality of the wolverines that are approved.

It will be hard on your marriage, and if he is working out of town, you will have to trust him that he is doing whatever he says he is doing.  Sleep is our friend, and when we can get some we do.  When we know that we have to be to work at a certain time, we try to get our sleep when we need to, since it can be dangerous if you are not paying attention.  If your husband pays attention, and follows the rules of his craft he will be safe.

BTW, according to Matt Rose (CEO of BNSF) at the current prices of fuel, he cannot see anything but the railroads being overwhelmed with a new flood of traffic in the next couple of years.  I would think that this job is a very stable job, and the economy does not affect it like it does some other industry's.  The only thing that affects our job is the company, and the weather. (it was really slow after all of the flooding in Iowa)

Hopefully an actual carman will be able to answer your question seeing as i can only answer on what i observe and on what the company is like.

Answer 5

I am a Conductor with the BNSF and I can tell you that the hours for BNSF employees are pretty tough.  I am not 100% positive on how it is for the Carmen, but I do see them out there at all hours of the night.  The railroad is a 24/7/365 business.  It never shuts down, and can be a tough lifestyle.  Having said that, we get paid very well and the benefits are top shelf.  I dont know what your husband does for a living, but he will be able to provide for your family working for the BNSF.  He will also have opportunities for advancment unlike any other company.  The potential to move up is phenomenal.  So you need to ask yourself if you can stand the odd hours.  If you are already financially stable, and have good benefits then he should stay where he is.  But if those two things are of importance to your family, then he should give it a shot.  Good luck!

Answer 6

It's the train crews that usually work the crazy hours.It all depends on if he gets a regular job or not.If he works an extra board then he protects different shifts when the regular guys take a day off.When he gets a regular shift then he will work the same shift everyday usually.The pay and the benefits help make up for some of the different lifestyle.