Employment question for railroad:?

Question

I've heard for a few years now that UP and BNSF especially, are hiring alot of people. Is that true? I'm topped at $12.00 an hour at my job, and I'm lookng for other avenues. I'm a local truck driver.

What kind of guys are the railroads looking for? I'm kind of a slight guy...5'7"...145lbs...not real strong. I've heard on Y!A and elsewhere that RR work pays very good, but that its very hard work.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

For the operating department it's not physically hard work most of the time.it's more of a mental strain sometimes.I'm usually gone 2 days and home for 2 days.It can be rough on family life.But it does pay well and the benefits are good.Be aware the most Class 1's now require new hires to accept promotion to engineer(it can be 4 to 5 years before that happens).On the UP if you fail engineers class you are out on the street.Starting pay on average is about 40 to 50k a year for a conductor depending on where you hire out.They are looking for people that are flexible in their life and willing to work strange hours.

Answer 2

They have been hiring alot lately, expecting a lot of people to retire, but those old guys (like Andy), keep hanging on and that keeps us young guys from working, (just messing with you Andy).  Anyway, the work is not physically difficult, but sometimes you are exposed to the elements a lot, and have to walk a lot on rough terrain.  It's more of a mental strain, having to keep your mind sharp at 3 in the morning, all while the rocking back and forth of the engine is trying to put you to sleep.  You will have to pass a drug test, physical, and background check, and most RRs require that you have a high school diploma or GED.  Like Andy said, it's rough on family life, because you can be gone alot, but never more than 2 days at a time.  It also depends on where you a hiring, here in San Antonio, UP overhired bigtime, and probably won't be hiring for several years, but I hear they are hiring in DFW and Houston.  So just check their websites, you can apply right there on line.  It does pay very well, and the benefits are hard to beat.  Good luck.

Answer 3

You are right, there will be a lot of hiring in the future, there are a lot of guys my age (mid to late 50s) that will be retiring en-mass in the near future.

Railroading is not physically hard, you can do it if you are in reasonable health.

It is very stressful in other ways, you have to be prepared to work night, holidays and weekends. You will need to be willing to relocate, at least early in your career until you build up enough seniority to hold a terminal full time. Not saying everyone is forced to move but it happens and you need to be aware of that.

Your family will seem secondary to your job at times, they will be well-fed and cared for but you wont be there so see it.

If you are the kind of person who needs a lot of structure and scheduling in your life, it may not be for you.

You have to have good eyesight, glasses are fine but if there is any color blindness you cannot be considered.

Also you will need to be drug free as they will be screening as part of the hiring process and y ou will be subject to totally random tests throughout your career.

If you can handle the inconsistincies it is a good living, there is a fair turnover the first few years but then people tend to stay long term.

Good Luck.