Waking up several times in a panic thinking you missed a call or took the call and fell asleep… being in the hotel for excessive amounts of time.. no picnic.. doing a 300 mile trip and then a yard master says give me a call before you tie up, you got some charity work. Smh… Thanks for putting a spotlight on some of the rail issues..
Just hired out with BNSF in Grand Junction, CO as a Conductor! Got my start date as well. Being 18 years old, I am excited about what's to come! Your videos help out so much!
I use to work for BNSF as a conductor in the yard. The part about working 14 days to get points back is now working 18 days, which is insane. I enjoyed working for the railroad. But, the part I hate about the railroad is management.
Yeah 18 days... is insane that they switched it... You also get dinged a conjunction penalty if you layoff fml and then use points instead of the standard 7 points it'll be 10 points... And i think that applies BEFORE also... So you layoff using points -7 and then use FMLA... that 7 turns to 10 i believe....
@@Tuglife912 they don't get it... if they cut as much as they want to cut, they won't be able to operate.. then where do you suppose the cutting will come from? They'll start to cut from management..
@@R7300 When you're on call, and you can't lay off because of xyz... and the only way to lay off if you dont have any more PTO left is points.. yeah it's bullshit any other company i can layoff without retaliation...
From an outsider's perspective, it all looks like a great thing and is lots of fun, but I know what it's like working 60 - 70 hours a week. I can't imagine being on a call like that. I like Trains, and even been playing a train SIM well several of them. But doing the real work is a whole different ball game. I do appreciate the insights.
We got sick days at UP last year and it’s funny half the shop used all of them up within the first month, especially the new guys. We got the point system too for calling off in a way it’s nice cause before it was always a mystery on how much you can call off. I’m a hostler in a mechanical yard, i always thought an engineer or conductor would be a great/fun job if you were like 20 and single and still live with parents or just have a apartment something you dont have to worry about. I couldn’t imagine being stuck in one of these things for 12 hours a day. We have a FMLA guy at our shop too. Calls off every 1-2 times a week, i thought it would be nice to have just in case but i think I would abuse the heck out of it too
Bnsf conductor out of Birmingham here and I can say as a 19 year old conductor I don’t mind being on call and I love the extra board I lowkey be stealing the best jobs
28 years love job, management sucks but they know they do, and know few of us pay any heed. We know what to do and we do it safely. Attendance? They can't do anything about it....too few warm bodies and when I get 30 they lose me too.
I had the COOLEST thing happen today! I met a train master out of Acca yard in Richmond Virginia, and we got to talking about work in acca, and he told me to hire on there and then transfer out to Tennessee. What are your thoughts in this?
I was an engineer for 40 years , retired now for 11, max out the 401k and your good to go and guess what, I have 3 educated adult children and my first wife is upstairs watching the Hallmark channel and Im watching the georgia dawgs, HELL YEAH !!!!
Since being activated as an engineer for CSX, I’ve gained 50 lbs from eating crap just trying to stay awake on 12 hours shifts. Plus we still don’t have paid sick days. It shows them on our entitlements, but they’re no good.
Been a while since I've been here but,i must say..... if you have a choice between working for the railroad and having your junk cut off...... say bye bye to your junk. less stress and less headache... Bro i need to message you maybe tomorrow....i think you'd like to hear the story of how NS and I parted ways last year.....ill be in touch with ya and yeah, this story i may just do a live feed for myself...... SMH.... stay safe brother and holler at me when you get a minute...
Why the railroad still insists on using a 24 hour extra board when most other trades that do the same (e.g. the airlines) split it into an AM and PM pool baffles me.
The yard can be tough at times, but one thing I noticed when I started was my body started to adapt pretty quickly. I use to be in great shape back before the railroad but when I hired in I hadn’t touched a gym in over a year. I was sore for the first few weeks but after doing it daily it’s just another day at the office. Never too late! The good thing about the extraboard the odds of you catching a yard job is slim, most of the time you’ll be dog catching or road trips.
I've been a cop for 8 years and I'm really considering a career change. I was in the military for 5 years before that so I'm used to shitty shifts, long days, missing holidays. Don't have any kids, don't plan on having any kids, and the wife has put up with multiple deployments and my cop job through all of it. The cop thing is just taking its mental toll and CPKC is hiring conductors near me. Their pay seems to be close to what I make currently. I'm really considering applying, but there seems to be so much doom and gloom around railroad careers, at least on Reddit. Again shitty management, shitty hours, whatever I'm used to it. Would love some input from the folks that have been doing it for awhile. As a follow up, can you supplement school with the GI Bill? I was able to do this at the police academy even though I was receiving a paycheck. This period is when I would be taking a significant pay cut.
Are there inspectors in the United States who can fine a conductor or train driver for violating safety or occupational health regulations? And do they set up ambushes to catch an employee for a violation
Hello I've recently applied and received my second email that my application has been moved to the next step, do you know how long it normally takes to get the next steps which I'm assuming will be the interview
Dont get me wrong dude, i know times have changed, I know things arent what they used to be, but people have gotten soft. For generations, a railroad worker has been known to have "2 of everything" two cars, two houses, two boats, some even two wives, etc. The trade off was, you came to work and theyd line your pockets with as much money as you wanted. People started wanting more time off, and the carriers said "ok, we'll give it to you but we'll pay you less" and they started coming after claims, coming after pay, benefits, etc. It was a beautiful place to be when attendance was never an issue, back before the government got involved and said we HAD to take rest days, and we HAD to take 10 hours rest. It made railroaders lazy. The carrier never cared or even noticed if you marked off sick for 30 days at a time because they always had people to run trains. Anymore its just people who sit on their ass half not knowing how to even do their job, that want maximum pay for minimum hours. Those days left when people started crying for more time off.
I'm just waiting for CSX to see if they will interview me. I've been on the list, I believe, since September. I did get hired by Norfolk 2024 to go training in February but declined due to unforseen circumstances. Regret not taking the offer.
Much the same as trucking. But the trucker gets to sleep in the bunk of the truck lol. So that the trailer has security lol. Only allowed to go home after loaded Pnematic tanker. After inhad installed the video security cammera/ recorder. Or would have had to go to the Co fenced sevirity yd. ( where things got damaged too. Lol) Other Co yd with items such as tabaco etc where stole - despite security cameras lol. Yeh just find out the code. Had to often change the gate code lol Esp after previous drivers left. Lol. Doesnt cost much to get a gate code lol. Hey now driver just made hos p/u truck payment lol. Nope dont tell the Hell Angels etc y real name.Yeh offers are out there. Lol. They like " working" with these type of ttuckers lol. Keys " accidently" left in yes " battery box" oops How did they get truck started lol. Yup high security. Yeh Co jerks driver witj pay. Not good
I am still a long ways away from working for the railroad but for someone starting out with no experience. What railroad would you recommend starting with, Union Pacific or BNSF?
You have no idea how much life has changed... For most of us, this is pretty out of date. Most of BNSF has implemented a 6 on 3 off... We still have points, but it costs A LOT more per day to use them. It's now 18 days in a row to get 4 points back... BUT really with the 3 off.. you don't need the points unless you have a specific date you need that you cant get a vacation or sick day in for. It is great. This is NOTHING like the original Hi-Vis. its been as much time off as anyone needs. 6-3 is the way to go, you can always skip your days off and mark up if you want.. I hope all terminals get this.
The thing that baffles me about BNSF is that they aren't even loyal to their own managers. Imagine using your engineering degree to enforce nonsensical glorified trucking company policies just to get the boot.
There's no reason for workers to be on call 24/7/365. There's a better way to do this. The class 1s are stuck in the early 1900s. These trains getting longer and longer need more crew not less. Congress needs to get the fuck out of the rail industry and let the people strike. This is coming from someone who is against big unions. The only thing that Congress should be doing in the rail industry is enforcing Anti-Trust laws. Class 1's are monopolies and they need to be split up. Imo
Waking up several times in a panic thinking you missed a call or took the call and fell asleep… being in the hotel for excessive amounts of time.. no picnic.. doing a 300 mile trip and then a yard master says give me a call before you tie up, you got some charity work. Smh… Thanks for putting a spotlight on some of the rail issues..
Just hired out with BNSF in Grand Junction, CO as a Conductor! Got my start date as well. Being 18 years old, I am excited about what's to come! Your videos help out so much!
First rule of working for the railroad. We don't talk about the railroad when not railroading. Stay salty friends.
I use to work for BNSF as a conductor in the yard. The part about working 14 days to get points back is now working 18 days, which is insane. I enjoyed working for the railroad. But, the part I hate about the railroad is management.
Yeah 18 days... is insane that they switched it... You also get dinged a conjunction penalty if you layoff fml and then use points instead of the standard 7 points it'll be 10 points...
And i think that applies BEFORE also...
So you layoff using points -7 and then use FMLA... that 7 turns to 10 i believe....
I agree, I worked at CSX Transportation in Miami for 7 years. I agree, I loved the railroad but I hate the management.
@@Tuglife912 they don't get it... if they cut as much as they want to cut, they won't be able to operate.. then where do you suppose the cutting will come from?
They'll start to cut from management..
It's insane to work 18 days without laying off?
@@R7300 When you're on call, and you can't lay off because of xyz... and the only way to lay off if you dont have any more PTO left is points.. yeah it's bullshit
any other company i can layoff without retaliation...
From an outsider's perspective, it all looks like a great thing and is lots of fun, but I know what it's like working 60 - 70 hours a week. I can't imagine being on a call like that. I like Trains, and even been playing a train SIM well several of them. But doing the real work is a whole different ball game. I do appreciate the insights.
They’re making you use your sick days first before you can use your FMLA. Man they’re slick as hell lol
We got sick days at UP last year and it’s funny half the shop used all of them up within the first month, especially the new guys. We got the point system too for calling off in a way it’s nice cause before it was always a mystery on how much you can call off. I’m a hostler in a mechanical yard, i always thought an engineer or conductor would be a great/fun job if you were like 20 and single and still live with parents or just have a apartment something you dont have to worry about. I couldn’t imagine being stuck in one of these things for 12 hours a day. We have a FMLA guy at our shop too. Calls off every 1-2 times a week, i thought it would be nice to have just in case but i think I would abuse the heck out of it too
What shop are you?
Bnsf conductor out of Birmingham here and I can say as a 19 year old conductor I don’t mind being on call and I love the extra board I lowkey be stealing the best jobs
@@fredrick8947 i use to use that extraboard to my advantage lol. Especially if I had something planned I would sharp shoot and have 2-3 days off lol.
28 years love job, management sucks but they know they do, and know few of us pay any heed. We know what to do and we do it safely. Attendance? They can't do anything about it....too few warm bodies and when I get 30 they lose me too.
love the new name man!
I had the COOLEST thing happen today! I met a train master out of Acca yard in Richmond Virginia, and we got to talking about work in acca, and he told me to hire on there and then transfer out to Tennessee. What are your thoughts in this?
I was an engineer for 40 years , retired now for 11, max out the 401k and your good to go and guess what, I have 3 educated adult children and my first wife is upstairs watching the Hallmark channel and Im watching the georgia dawgs, HELL YEAH !!!!
Go Dawgs!
Since being activated as an engineer for CSX, I’ve gained 50 lbs from eating crap just trying to stay awake on 12 hours shifts. Plus we still don’t have paid sick days. It shows them on our entitlements, but they’re no good.
Been a while since I've been here but,i must say..... if you have a choice between working for the railroad and having your junk cut off...... say bye bye to your junk. less stress and less headache... Bro i need to message you maybe tomorrow....i think you'd like to hear the story of how NS and I parted ways last year.....ill be in touch with ya and yeah, this story i may just do a live feed for myself...... SMH.... stay safe brother and holler at me when you get a minute...
Why the railroad still insists on using a 24 hour extra board when most other trades that do the same (e.g. the airlines) split it into an AM and PM pool baffles me.
QUAD CITIES!!! MY HOME METRO
45 years old, still dream of railroading, but I'm to old and the young years are gone, not gonna be able to work a yard.
The yard can be tough at times, but one thing I noticed when I started was my body started to adapt pretty quickly. I use to be in great shape back before the railroad but when I hired in I hadn’t touched a gym in over a year. I was sore for the first few weeks but after doing it daily it’s just another day at the office. Never too late! The good thing about the extraboard the odds of you catching a yard job is slim, most of the time you’ll be dog catching or road trips.
I've been a cop for 8 years and I'm really considering a career change. I was in the military for 5 years before that so I'm used to shitty shifts, long days, missing holidays. Don't have any kids, don't plan on having any kids, and the wife has put up with multiple deployments and my cop job through all of it.
The cop thing is just taking its mental toll and CPKC is hiring conductors near me. Their pay seems to be close to what I make currently. I'm really considering applying, but there seems to be so much doom and gloom around railroad careers, at least on Reddit.
Again shitty management, shitty hours, whatever I'm used to it. Would love some input from the folks that have been doing it for awhile.
As a follow up, can you supplement school with the GI Bill? I was able to do this at the police academy even though I was receiving a paycheck. This period is when I would be taking a significant pay cut.
Are there inspectors in the United States who can fine a conductor or train driver for violating safety or occupational health regulations? And do they set up ambushes to catch an employee for a violation
Hello I've recently applied and received my second email that my application has been moved to the next step, do you know how long it normally takes to get the next steps which I'm assuming will be the interview
All this while Katie farmer is counting her bucks in an office chair.
Dont get me wrong dude, i know times have changed, I know things arent what they used to be, but people have gotten soft. For generations, a railroad worker has been known to have "2 of everything" two cars, two houses, two boats, some even two wives, etc. The trade off was, you came to work and theyd line your pockets with as much money as you wanted.
People started wanting more time off, and the carriers said "ok, we'll give it to you but we'll pay you less" and they started coming after claims, coming after pay, benefits, etc. It was a beautiful place to be when attendance was never an issue, back before the government got involved and said we HAD to take rest days, and we HAD to take 10 hours rest. It made railroaders lazy. The carrier never cared or even noticed if you marked off sick for 30 days at a time because they always had people to run trains. Anymore its just people who sit on their ass half not knowing how to even do their job, that want maximum pay for minimum hours. Those days left when people started crying for more time off.
I'm just waiting for CSX to see if they will interview me. I've been on the list, I believe, since September. I did get hired by Norfolk 2024 to go training in February but declined due to unforseen circumstances. Regret not taking the offer.
doesnt seem like NS is hiring much lately
Don’t do it
I'm waiting as well, do you know how long the process normally takes
Wait until you see the new BNSF contract that just got shot down lmao 😅
Much the same as trucking. But the trucker gets to sleep in the bunk of the truck lol. So that the trailer has security lol. Only allowed to go home after loaded Pnematic tanker. After inhad installed the video security cammera/ recorder. Or would have had to go to the Co fenced sevirity yd. ( where things got damaged too. Lol) Other Co yd with items such as tabaco etc where stole - despite security cameras lol. Yeh just find out the code. Had to often change the gate code lol Esp after previous drivers left. Lol. Doesnt cost much to get a gate code lol. Hey now driver just made hos p/u truck payment lol. Nope dont tell the Hell Angels etc y real name.Yeh offers are out there. Lol. They like " working" with these type of ttuckers lol. Keys " accidently" left in yes " battery box" oops How did they get truck started lol. Yup high security. Yeh Co jerks driver witj pay. Not good
I am still a long ways away from working for the railroad but for someone starting out with no experience. What railroad would you recommend starting with, Union Pacific or BNSF?
Apply to both and take whoever offer the job first. All Class 1s are more or less the same nowadays
@ Thanks for the help
BNSF, BNSF makes you go through 4 months of training,
You have no idea how much life has changed... For most of us, this is pretty out of date. Most of BNSF has implemented a 6 on 3 off... We still have points, but it costs A LOT more per day to use them. It's now 18 days in a row to get 4 points back... BUT really with the 3 off.. you don't need the points unless you have a specific date you need that you cant get a vacation or sick day in for. It is great. This is NOTHING like the original Hi-Vis. its been as much time off as anyone needs. 6-3 is the way to go, you can always skip your days off and mark up if you want.. I hope all terminals get this.
@@snowkatslimz that’s good to hear. I have been out of the loop when it comes to negotiations for sure. Glad to hear you guys are getting time off!
Is it a guarantee board? Think we might get the same at UP… really think they are wanting 11 and 4 like our engineers
The thing that baffles me about BNSF is that they aren't even loyal to their own managers. Imagine using your engineering degree to enforce nonsensical glorified trucking company policies just to get the boot.
For some reason I'm watching this shortly after tying up on my 6th start.
Man very rarely did I make it to 6 lol. Always caught a deadhead back home on number 5 lol.
There's no reason for workers to be on call 24/7/365. There's a better way to do this. The class 1s are stuck in the early 1900s. These trains getting longer and longer need more crew not less. Congress needs to get the fuck out of the rail industry and let the people strike. This is coming from someone who is against big unions. The only thing that Congress should be doing in the rail industry is enforcing Anti-Trust laws. Class 1's are monopolies and they need to be split up. Imo
I can't wait to work for CSX or NS i just turned 18 today now I have to graduate school
Being in a crappy place like Detroit makes these jobs a crap shoot.
WOW That Workers is awful.