Union Pacific Railroad Class?

Question

I recieved the offer to work train service in Van Buren, AR I just completed all the testing today. How long does it normaly take for them to process the results of the background check, The drug test the PAT test and call me in for the 18 days of safety training, and once that's completed How quickly do they give you a start date. I just need to know to give my apartments some type of notice

Answer 1

When I hired out, I was called with the offer at the end of June, did all of the tests in July (physical, drug test, strength test, eyesight), and then started class in the 2nd week of August.  You will get paid for class, and the first day of class will be your actual seniority date.  So everyone in your class will have the same date, and the seniority in your class will be determined by your SSN.  You will have the 3 weeks of brakeman/switchman (and safety) training, then probably do 4 weeks of actually working in the yard with a switch crew, then back for 2 more weeks of class for conductor's training, and then 3 or 4 weeks of taking trips with a conductor.  After that if they don't send you to Remote Control training, you will start working on your own either in the yard as a switchman or on the road as a conductor.