Which is a better employer, Norfolk and Southern or CSX?

Question

I ETS out of the Army in few months and wonder which corporation provides the best benefits, higher pay, and job quality. I am looking for the answer for both management and the conductor jobs. Thanks

Answer 1

NS are very strict on their safety rule and will fire you at a drop of a hat. CSX is more forgiven. Pay and benefits is base on the Union rate for non management.

Answer 2

They are both similar in a lot of ways. But NS is the safer way to go when it comes to safety. They are strict because they want you to be as safe as possible out there. They want you to take your time and do your job safely so you can go home to your family. And no, it's not necessarily true that with NS, you would get fired on the spot. It all depends on what you did. Like if you take a short cut to get things done quicker..they will probably just write you up and you will have to attend a rules class or something. But if you run a red board, as with any railroad, you are suspended automatically. Choose whatever you think would benefit you most honestly..

Answer 3

I would also like to thank you for your service to our country. But you should really sit down and think hard about wanting a railroad career, in management or the rank and file. If you don't mind being up at all times of the day and night. Being away from your family, missing important events and basically not having a personal life for the next 20 or 30 years then railroad life will suit you fine. But if your like most people, your going to hate that kind of lifestyle. I've been on the railroad for over 20 years and i've seen many men, women, and young men from all sorts of backgrounds including military not last. The money is not what it used to be, we are 40% behind in just cost of living raises since 1980. They are,[the RR]  trying to get more for less every year. This includes the officials and the contract employees. My sugestion would be to use your GI bill and finish any collage and get a degree so you can have a normal life, meaning working a 8 hour shift Monday thru Friday 8 to 430 with Saturday and Sunday off. Like I said I've been with the NS in St.Louis area for over 20 years, 18 as an engineer and the best I can do is a 630 AM start with thursday and friday's as my weekend. I have missed many family functions and have basically lost touch with most of my friends from my younger days, and I work in the yards were I go home and sleep in my own bed every night. If your on the road, your in a motel. We have management trainee's with 4 or more years of colleage that are only making 35 G's a year. And allot of the time they are required to work 12 hour shifts for these pennies. Sorry to sound so glum, but it's a really hard life. Good Luck in what ever you do and again thank you for your service. I have a son in his second year in the Air Force that we are very proud of.

Answer 4

Joseph,

To first reiterate what others have said, many many thanks for your military service.  I think, Bear, said it best, especially with the many years of railroading he has experienced.  Unless you either very much enjoy railroading or do not mind the many times mind-numbing long hours away from home and family it probably isn't a job/lifestyle suited for you.

I don't mean to discourage you but only reiterate Bear's comments and the true reality of a railroading career.  For instance, I have enjoyed studying railroading for most of my life but I have chosen to stay clear of a career in the industry for the very above reasons.

In any event, to answer your question and add to others' comments, while I am not aware of benefits, I can speak of both railroad's corporate cultures.  As others have said NS is a much stricter employer than CSX, so much so that one of NS's nicknames given it by employers is "n**i Southern."

In all, the best of luck with whatever you decide to do regarding a career (whether it be railroading or something else).

Answer 5

First: thank you for your military service and congratulations on starting a new career.

In both companies you will be represented by the same union so the pay and benefits are too close to be a deciding factor.

I cant tell you about managment, probably close though.

I have noticed that discipline within a company is largely dependent on local company officials, so it can vary from location.

With union representation, I dont see either as being much worse or better, pick the one that operates where you want to live.

The NS, much like the Union Pacific has a reputation for harsher discipline but neither company wants to get rid of good employees.

If you are a good employee and dont plan on causing trouble, I wouldnt worry about it in the least.

Both are good companies.

Good luck!

Answer 6

I work for the CN, so I don't know much about either company, really, other than their nicknames.  I'm also a former Marine (doesn't mean I don't respect my brothers in the Army)  :)

I work as a conductor on the extra board, which means I don't have a 'normal' job, but rater, I fill in whenever there's a vacancy due to vacation, sickness, etc.  If I work a job that ties up (finishes) in less than 12 hours, I get 8 hours of rest time before I can be called again.  If I work 12 or more hours, I get 10 hours off.  Also, I get one day a week off, and often work well into my rest day.  I've also worked two shifts in one day.  I got called to work at 2:00 am, finished at noon, and got called back to work at 8:00 pm.

I really do like working as a conductor.  It's a very challenging job, but the pay and benefits are very good ($100k + / year).  However, the job leaves very little time for family, friends, and you can forget about most holidays.

Answer 7

I never worked for CSX so I do not know all the differences I will tell you the ones I do know about.

NS employees refer to the company as "n**i Southern" due to their strick safety rules. I can live with safety rules. That is what got me home in one piece every day. Railroading is one of the most dangerous jobs out there.

CSX employees refer to the company as the "Chicken Sh*t Express". Go figure.

There is a whole website dedicated to how bad the company is www.csx-sux.com

We shared power with CSX at times and when the crews see the lead locomotive is a CSX unit you would hear them groan. They are usually not kept up very well and the bathrooms are usually filthy.

I would think long and hard about starting a career with the railroad. We used to be the highest paid job in transportation but not anymore. Our pay kind of stagnated over the years. We still make good money but if you factor in the hours someone that makes 18.00 an hour would make more than most of us if they worked the same amount of hours we did.