i’m wondering how to get into railroad managment
i am a high school senior in Northern IL. and i wi***o go to college and get a degree that will get my foot in the door at a railroad
I have a good Act and G.P.A. to get into any school in the midwest, and am already a manager at a Orange Box Like store
any idea’s
sd24B
Get as much education as you can. One route would be a Bachelors degree in the Liberal Arts, two or three years working with a transportation company in a line position and an MBA from a school like Northwestern, Tennessee or Penn State. A line postion would mean working as a salesmen or terminal manager.
i have heard about degrees in railroad managment
i guessing that is not the way to go
and thanx for the reply
It is amazing what they have in degrees and programs these days- personally I am not familiar with a specific degree in railroad management, it may be a special minor program of business programs at universities…but back in the day Ohio State had a Transportation and Logistics (minor only) program-I got the minor but never used it as I made the Navy a career-contact UP or BNSF (really all of the Class 1s)employment/personnel offices and see what they have to say-Good Luck
U of IL. has a degree in it so i’m told but i don’t have there class book so i am not sure
by kissing a lotta (()
Check the RR websites. BNSF, in their HR sections, has some guidance on who make good candidates for their management-track (you should pardon the expression) hires. The other Class-Ones probably do as well.
Or better yet, write them directly and ask what kind of educational backgrounds they are looking for. The operative word here is direct and developing a direct approach to things like this is a good habit to get into.
National Academy of Railroad Sciences (Overland Park KS)
AAS in Railroad Operations
http://www.JCCC.net/home/depts/S00018/site/rr-degrees
Sacramento City College (Sacramento CA)
AS in Railroad Operations
http://www.SCC.LosRios.edu/programs/railroad.html
St. Philip’s College (San Antonio TX)
Certificate in Railroad Operations
http://www.ACCD.edu/spc/spcmain/swc/railroad.htm
Tarrant County College (Fort Worth TX)
Certificate in Railroad Dispatching
http://www.TCCD.edu/programs/dp.asp?dpid=229
University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign (Urbana - Champaign IL)
Bachelor’s Degree in Railroad Engineering
http://CEE.UIUC.edu/research/railroad/
University of Tennessee has a top-notch reputation for transportation education but I’m not sure what the major actually is. Have known several railroad management-types who’ve completed the degree.
Or, there’s always farmer’s method, that works, too, hire out and start in.
Getting your foot in the door is the most important thing !! Most jobs are awarded to internal bids before the company goes to the outside . A good start would be in the MOW of way dept. first you break a couple hundred spike mall handles, you then drop a couple of tools off a bridge into a river . Pull the gauge using the low rail on a curve, and most af all show an interest in your job . After a few months it may be time to transfer into a different department, I suggest the mechanical dept. After rolling an engine into the turntable pit you will know to set a handbrake. Don’t forget to fill the coolant water with governer oil !! A couple of hundred gallons of fuel on the the ground will teach you not to trust the fuel gauges. After a few months you will be ready for train service. There are two ways to ensure promotion in that department , either you must appear on the 6 O Clock as the "man at the throttle " at the wreck site or by buying gifts for the higher department managers.
Go to RR web sites. See where they do their college recruiting and what majors they are looking for for their various mgt training programs and then check out those schools.
You might also consider applying for a co-op/intern stint while in college. For example, NS hires quite a few co-ops from GA Tech to work in their Atlanta offices.
For NS, go to their web site click the Carrers menu. Lots of info.
Having some familiarity with RRing and interest in the industry is definitely a plus.
I like the idea of a degree in transportation management. A broad education in transportation would give you a clear understanding not only of railroad operations but also of the strengths and weaknesses of the competition. The would become more valuable as you work your way up the corporate ladder.
Also you should consider sales. A railroad sales agent may not know much about train handling or track geometry, but he does know volumes about putting together deals that are profitable for the company. That’s why in any industry the successful salesman often rises quickly up the corporate chain.
None of the above should be taken to lessen the validity of the others’ responses. I’m just offering alternatives you may not otherwise think about.
If you are planning to be an executive in an operating area, I’d suggest you get your degree, and then some basic experience in moving materials, such as enlisting in the Army and joining the transportation corps.
If you are planning an executive career in a non-operational area, you need to get into college and then seek out internships at a railroad (or other transportation company, including airlines) . Internships are an excellent way to get in the door. Ask your target companies where they go to interview interns (it is a tricky business. For example, for years Burlington Northern sought interns at the University of Missouri and Boston College).
The rails like to hire peple who have worked in other industries and shy away from hiring folks who they believe are railfans. They hire a lot of executives from companies in other modes of transportation.
Good luck! There are jobs out there. It just takes some persistance and detective work.
PS - I am a former VP with BN.
About being a railfan…the best policy is “don’t ask/don’t tell”, at least until you know whose who. Although, it’s not as bad as it was a couple of decades ago. Just the fact that NS and CSX have company calendars where they solicit pictures from employees is evidence enough of that.
RRs definitely don’t want stereotypic “foamers” whose only interest in locomotive paint schemes or whose knowledge of RRing seems to end at “I hate the UP because they ate the Katy”. But, there are many, many railfans working on the inside and many more non-railfans who have seem to have taken a more-than-healthy interest in trains.
Knowing that BNSF’s transcon route is mostly double track and goes from Chicago to LA is a good thing. Knowing that the Super Chief used to run with F7s might raise eyebrows.
Once you have made a good reputation for yourself, you can be a bit more open about your avocations.
BTW the AVP who interviewed me for my 1st job at Conrail was an old-time PRR guy who was a railfan. But, I didn’t find that out until years later when I saw some publish pix and found out he belonged to the PRR hist. soc.
Over the years a Transportation major has morphed into a Supply Chain major. When I went to UT ( BS 1966) their was a heavy emphasis on working within an industry regulated by the ICC. As the ICC went away we saw the rise of WalMart and their killer supply chain .
Here are some links to Univesities offer a Supply Chain major : Tennessee :http://mlt.bus.utk.edu/Default.htm and
Penn State http://www.smeal.psu.edu/scis/index.html
In addition the Class I railroads will often post information about where they go to interview management trainees. Suggest you look on those lists for a University that might interest you. Here is the NS’ spring schedule http://www.nscorp.com/nscorp/application?pageid=Careers&category=Careers&contentId=english/nscorp/careers/ns_career_center.html
I guess I am a little surprised you are asking here. The Railroads are pretty open about who they are hiring, what they are looking for, and why. Their websites generally contain a considerable amount of information about management trainee programs. Have you looked at any of these?
BNSF has a strong military recruitment ethic, for instance. You will find this on their website:
[quote]
QUOTE:
BNSF is actively seeking applicants with military experience. At BNSF, we salute your service, value your skills and welcome your unique experiences. From skilled craftsmen to first-line supervisors, we filled over 3,000 positions this year and expect to surpass that amount next year. BNSF offers challenging and rewarding career opportunities for those in transition from military to civilian life as well as veterans, retirees and members of National Guard and Reserve components.
We are a dynamic and progressive employer, providing competitive pay and benefits, a rich and stable company tradition, as well as training and advancement opportunities. If you’re ready to continue serving your nation in a whole new way, the BNSF team awaits you.
In December 2005, BNSF was recognized by GI Jobs Magazine as one of America’s Top 25 Most Military FriendlyEmployers.
In 2005 alone, BNSF hired over 750 veterans.
Currently, over 195 BNSF employees are serving on active duty and over 400 have been called up since Sept. 11, 2001.
At BNSF, we recognize and value the sacrifice made by our Guard and Reserve employees. We offer enhanced and extended benefits for those employees called to active duty in the War on Terrorism, including make-whole pay and
First and formost forget anything that makes sense.
Second become a yes person.
Third and very important is get to know who is the biggest snitch on the railroad you know and go with it.
Ringer
God Bless the Great Northern
You should also be aware that hourly/management relationships on railroads are among the most distrusstful in any industry. Much of it stems from early years but it is there and people on both sides think the other is nuts. most people in railroad management I know talk only about when they can retire or leave.
For Farmer’s Method:
TIP–First stock up on Chapstick and Deoderant, and then GOOD LUCK!
All Three elements will be needed to succeed…
Sam
eh.
ok yes i have looked at the railroad websites but i always like to get some info from people that are not on the payroll,
i can hide the foamer part, and i knew that i know alot of people in the operation trades and know about the anti-managment part,
Thanks for the info!