Just got hired with Union Pacific as train crew. Home terminal will be Villa Grove, Ill.?

Question

What are the chances that I will stay there and does anyone know if the work out of that terminal will get me my 40 hrs or plus? I will be giving up a great straight day 40 hr work job for UP. But am anxious to see what life with UP will be like. Thanks!

Answer 1

You will stay and work in your home service unit (unless you borrow out), but you might have to work at a different location within the service unit at times, especially before you gain any seniority.  The pay is great if you can work, as Hound Dog said, there are a lot of people cut off right now, I am one of them also.  The schedule, or lack there of, is the hardest part, make sure that you don't mind getting called to go to work at 1 a.m., or on weekends or holidays.  Hope it works out for you, good luck.

Answer 2

Railroading isn't normally a set hour job.  Yard jobs are pretty much 8 hours then a relief shift comes in and relieves you.  They are normally 5 days a week with 2 days off.......so there's your 40 hours.  Plan on working more than 40 hrs a week on the railroad for any job other than yard.  I work for BNSF and the UP is the most similar to working structures.  From what I'm told, the UP tells you were you will go to work "which terminal" and place there manpower where needed.  BNSF has system wide seniority.  I can work in California 1 week then bid a job in Texas or wherever if I want the next.  Of course you have to take familiarization trips everywhere you go so that can be costly if they don't pay to familiarize.  Pay should be about $45-55K in yard, and probably $60-130k for road and extra boards......depending on the runs you have at that terminal.  If they're short runs of about 100-200 miles it will pay about $200-350 per trip there, and the same back.  You get paid per trip, not really for hours.  If you made the 200 mile trip in 4 hours, you get paid the same as if it took you 8.  After so many hours there is the overtime factor that adds up......not sure what that terminals agreement is for the time to start.  Ours is 8 hours and 17 minutes.  You can work a yard job and have absolutely nothing to do but move 2 cars which is 10 minutes worth of work, and make the same as your full 8 hour shift.  Pays job, not hour.  I've went home after going to work for 30 minutes and got paid $230 cause there was nothing to switch.  You'll find out soon enough.  Stick with it and don't let being the "low man" discourage you.  You'll be able to hold the jobs you want, get the days off you want, and the pay you want with a little time.  Take your bumps as a "new hire" and it will provide a very good lifestyle and comfortable living for a family................and Congrats!

Answer 3

Good Pay and benefits

Answer 4

There is a very good chance you will be there, it's hard to move on up's system. On the railroad you get paid trip rate,  basic day is around $146.00 with no overtime. Depending on the job overtime might not start till 13hrs 16mins.  Many trainservice employees across the up system are laid off right now, I'm one of them. If you are on the extra board at 80% pay is around $2400.00 a half. This last half for me I worked two days out of fifteen and made $2400.00. It's not like that everywhere. If you would like to talk to me email me, and I will send you my phone number.

Answer 5

Looks like you will be running to Chicago. I looked at your seniority roster and It looks like you will be able to hold Villa Grove once you are set up.

But....

Kiss any Idea of a 9-5 job with weekends goodbye, this isnt that kind of job