Union pacific conductors and furloughs question?

Question

does anyone know what the terminal in north little rock AR is like as far as stability? Also, have you noticed a drop in business with the economy on the decline and do you anticipate the railroad industry business slowing down for a few years or more? Or does this recession coupled with outrageous fuel prices encourage businesses to use Railroads more?

also, I am assuming that every candidate that is hireable they will offer. for instance , if you pass all the tests, background , drug, and don't say anything stupid in the interview I am assuming you got a real good chance of being offered. That being said if you get furloughed right out of training do they give you a list of cities or terminals you can go work out of? if you don't go can you just take a temporary lay off and come back when they call? Do they just tell you what city you are needed and to report or you're fired?

out of ever 100 new hires, how many do you think quit due to too demanding within the first 2 years?

Answer 1

I work for the UP in Texas so i can't tell you anything about Ark. I do know that if you are hired and then furloughed they will let you transfer anywhere that they need people.Be aware if you do this you start at the bottom of the seniority list where you transfer too.They also have borrow outs that go work where they have shortages.Also the UP has the right not to recall you if you are furloughed for longer than a year i believe it is.Chances of that are slim.I think railroad business is just going to keep on growing.Fuel costs will probably help not hurt rail business.If you get called for an interview don't say anything stupid like how long before i get weekends and holidays off?And if you smoke don't let them know.They held an interview here last year and the interviewer said lets take a smoke break.Anyone that went outside to have a smoke was told afterwards they could go home they weren't needed.Be real careful what you say and do!If you have anymore questions email me and i will try to help you get answers for them.Out of every 100 hired we probably lose 25 the first year.If you really want a job on the railroad don't give up if you don't hear from them right away.Re post an app on the uprr website.we have guys that didn't hear from them for 6 months.Good luck to you

Answer 2

Go ahead and apply to get your foot in the door and learn the ropes, then go into management....they will always need someone to help clean up the wrecks!!  And give the rules tests!!LOL

Answer 3

Splitter-

If you are applying for Union Pacific I can tell you this.  More than likely you are not going to be furloughed right off the bat.  You get to work what is called the Extra Board.  And, yes be prepared to be on call 24/7-365 per year.

Union Pacific will more than likely have you working more hours than you really want to work.  But that's also the name of the game.  

The catch is the guys with more seniority can bid you out of your location, (residential area), and you will land in some little crappy back water town like "Bent Fork" or "Podunk" Utah.

And what can happen is that you will get the phone call about 3 in the morning, and be required in a remote location that is more than a 90 minute drive, from your house.

Let me give you an great example of why one of my relatives now works for Amtrak on a dedicated run.

One morning about 2:30 he got a call from a Union Pacific Dispatcher.  The work order was for Dunsmuir, California.  From the San Francisco Bay Area that is a 6 1/2 hour drive.

He was then given 48 hours to get to that location and report for duty.  Union Pacific only covers the first two weeks lodging for you.  Then if that becomes a longer duty assignment you are responsible for the lodging costs.  Well, after being there for 3 months, he gets to make a phone call to his wife and she gets to pack the house up and move to Dunsmuir while he is on the Locomotive moving freight.

Needless to say, after that c**p, he obtained a job with Amtrak and is one of the engineers on the Coast Starlight, that runs from Los Angeles to Seattle.

And for the record, yes you do not get to have a life when you work for the railroad.  Additionally, its not for just two years you take the beating either.  Try 5 to 10.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

Son, no job is guaranteed any more. Personally I think your going to see a rise in business in the rail industry because of the rising fuel cost. Right now most railroads are only paying about 1.60 or so for a gallon of diesel because they are not having to burn the same fuel as truckers. It's a higher sulfur content so it's cheaper to refine. Also you can haul so much more freight per gallon with a Locomotive. As for what the UP does in their hiring practices, I don't know I work for the NS. Our new hirer's are dropping like flies  because they are required to know some things that some of our guy's that have 30 years don't even know, like drawing maps of yards and industries from memory after only being here for 3 to 5 months. As for being furloughed right out of training, you'll need to be marked up(actually working a job) before you'll have any recall rights of any kind, if they have this at all. All I can say is if you think you can handle the hours and being on call 24-7-365, Go For It!!!