Hi there. I am considering taking a position as a freight conductor in Cleveland OH. I have a family (wife and 2 kids). I make about $45,000 a year now. My wife also works part time and makes about $25,000. Can anyone tell me how much I will make the first few years? I know after OTJT I will make 80% of the daily rate, but what is the daily rate? Can someone please explain things to me? Working 6 days a week and on call 24/7? Is this true? I don’t know if it is worth leaving my current job for the railroad. When could my wife work if I am on call? I know the railroad has a better pension and retirement than I currently have. Is it worth leaving a Mon-Fri job for this? What can I expect to make?
I worked in the 70s and 80s as a tower op. I know some guys now who make 60 to 80k per year in the long pool. New guys dont have the same protection as before. I think if you hire out after 81 you dont have new york doc protection but dont quote me on that. GOOD LUCK
Yes, on call 24/7 is the norm. After working a job, you’re entitled to a 8-10 hour rest period, which at the end of your available for work. So, you could get called at 4am and told to report by 6am, then work 10 hours, get off at 4pm, and while you’re on your rest, get a call at 10pm telling you to be at work by midnight (that’s 8 hours since you tied up at 4pm). The system is merciless. No designated days off; no holidays; 6 and 7 day work weeks; if you work the road, you could easily be gone for 24 hours or more. If you need a schedule and lots of time with your family, then I wouldn’t suggest taking the job. But like you say, the benefits are good.
As for money, you’d have to have a look at the union’s contract with the carrier;, but I’d guess you could expect to make $45k-50k that first year (if not more).
If it’s with Norfolk Southern, I wish you the best of luck. A friend of mine just went to a hiring session in Cleveland two weeks ago. About 60 folks were invited with just one position available. Of course the HR people did not say how many spots (or in this case, spot) were open until about 2-3 hours into the session. Persistence is the key.
I just hired on with CSX. I started off with a pre-job interview with www.amdg.ws . I was selected and took out a sallie mae direct loan to pay for my 5 weeks of classroom training and lodging expenses.
In the second week of the AMDG class we had an interview with a human resources rep and received our letter offers. The letters say that hiring is quaranteed upon successful completion of the following: 1. Drug Screening 2. Medical Test 3. Graduation from the college.
You then go to the REDI Center and are paid as a conductor trainee. If you are a direct hire for CSX you will not have to pay for your courses, however your pay will be significantly less than the person that paid for the course.
So far I have enjoyed my “CUBBING”. I have worked in the yard and now am cubbing on the road. The road part is a challenge because you only get 6 to 8 hours of rest in between your trips. Its worth every penny though. Paying attention to detail and doing your job the way the company wants you to do it will keep you from getting fired.
Good habits start early. The old timers and some new tend to take short cuts which in turn may cause them to seek employment else where if they are not careful…
There are railroad holidays designated in your union agreement. Usually 11 if I recall correctly. After you work for a year you will get a weeks vacation under most agreements. How the year is calculated can vary.
The system is merciless and you are on call 24/7/365 as a general rule (except when you are off on vacation or sick). If you mark off sick you will not be paid. As has already been said 6 or 7 day weeks are common. In your initial training you will not make much and with the step progression 80% to 85% etc you will not be getting much over $40K your first year. If things are moving and you get promoted to Conductor and out on the road you will make more, but it means less time at home.
When you start you will be on the Extra List which means constant call. Hopefully, if retirements are happening in your district you can move up in seniority so you can hold some sort of regular job after a couple of years. Of course, a regular job may only mean a slot in a “chain gang” type pool where you work in rotation six days per week.
And just wait till the first time the phone rings at 3 in the morning. There were times when the list was turning, I barely saw my wife for weeks at a time. There was one weekend, I worked 5 starts in the 3 days.
That’s the good part About the time that you accumulate some seniority as a conductor, then you will (if working for NS) be required to attend (and pass) engineer’s school. And passing is mandatory, or you are thrown out on your ear (no going back to being just a conductor if you flunk out on the engineer’s course.)
The really deluxe thing about becoming an engineer is that you get to go back to the bottom of the list and start accumulating seniority all over again.
You’ll also be paying more into RR retirement than you currently do into social security, so earning $50K for the Railroad does not equal the same take home as working for GE, etc.
I work for NS when your a trainee you only make 500 a week until your marked up then its 80% a conductor at 80% at out location make 1900 in six days yes you will be on call 24/7 but you can mark off, you get at 10 hours at home if your on the road if your in the yard you will probably only work 7-8hrs a day then go home like any other job and will get holidays off and have a regular schedule but I think its well worth it if you do get hired you will have to go to mcdonough GA for 8 days then work for 3-4 weeks and then back for 8 more days then 4 months of working before you get marked up at 500 a week but where else can you make that much money when I was a supervisor at my old job I was putting in the same amount of hours for what I am working now but when you did the math my 45000 salary I was only making around 10 an hour when I was supposed to be making 20 as long as you follow the rules the trainmasters stay out of your hair the rules are there for your safety the benefits are also very nice
The amount of money you make is determined by the following:
DIRECT HIRE: Your pay is approximately $650.00 a week until you mark up to promoted Conductor. Being a direct hire has an advantage over being a Railroad College Graduate in that you are receiving a pay check from day 1, where as the Railroad College Graduate does not receive a paycheck until he/she successfully graduates from the Railroad College for that particular region you are hiring into.
Self Pay for Railroad College. My pay is $750.00 per week and I received my first paycheck after I graduated AMDG. Average paycheck while in training is about $1,200 after taxes.
I spent 10 days at the REDI Center in Atlanta for which I was paid for 10 days of meals, lodging, and mileage to and from my home terminal. The 5 weeks that I spent in AMDG, I was responsible for the lodging, food, gas, etc… that cost me an additional $2,500. So I forked out $7,000 for my new career and look forward to getting promoted 6 July.
I don’t get paid over time when I go on my qualifying runs Nashville to Chattanoga or to Bruceton. But my meals, mileage, and hotel room is paid for. Besides, I am there to learn as much as possible instead of just going along for the rides. When I mark up to Conductor, I will go on the extra board and then start paying into my Union Dues $78 a month, Medical Insurance $148 a month, RedBoard Insurance $60 a month… The UTU which is the union for our Conductors here is attempting to negotiate with the Railroads on marking everyone up to 100% pay: approximately $209 a day for 8 hours. If it happens, then I will be happy. If not, then off to work I go… Hi Ho Hi Ho [:-^]
So, depending on where you hire in at and what company you hire into will depend on how much you may or may not make. I hope that I have been able to shed some light on what to expect.
If you need funds for the course you may qualify for a grant from your State, County employme
What about lay-offs? Are they common? Is there a slow time for the railroads? Most of what I’ve heard about this job is negative. I think I might stick with my current job. Please post any advice that you have! Thanks!
There are good points to railroading, it’s not ALL bad.
I work with some of the best people in the world, my family and I live comfortable (though we are by no means rich), I don’t worry if there is a illness in the family as we have pretty good insurance, and lets not forget about our retirement- it’s pretty good as well.
As stated by ZAPP, you have your good days and you have your bad days. I have 23 years of Active Army as an Infantryman to look back at and be thankful that I am
BLESSED
ALIVE
CAN CARRY A 135 LBS OF CRAP FOR 25 MILES WITH AN M-60 MACHINEGUN AS A LIGHT INFANTRY 7TH ID MANCHU DURING PEACE TIME AND COMBAT. (MY LEADERS TOLD ME THAT IT BUILT INTESTINAL FORTITUDE) ALL I GOT WAS A SORE BACK, FEET, AND SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. AND ONLY GOT PAID $2875 A MONTH WITH ARMY BENES FOR MY FAMILY.
STILL MARRIED TO THE SAME WOMAN THAT I MARRIED BEFORE I JOINED THE ARMY. (Yes we have our moments today, but we can manage crew callers calling me every 8 to 10 hours for my qualifiing runs.)
You will have a busy cycle and a lull as industry and the economy retools and the holidays roll around. I have not been working long enough to experience it, but I am prepared, I am still cubbing and wont get promoted until July. Not having any seniority will put me in a bind from time to time, but heck, compared to what previous railroaders had to endure and fight for we have it GOOD.
To the MEN and WOMEN that have worked in this industry and fought for every benefit that I think I might have, RAILROAD RETIREMENT, PAY, HOURS OF SERVICE, I say THANK YOU.
In the Armor (19K30) world we call those guy’s “crunchies”. Why carry all that crap? And you want me to walk on the ground…I don’t think so…there’s all kinds of creepy crawlies down there! I’ll s