Dispatcher Career??

[hotrodhendrix]

Im looking into the BNSF dispatcher program at Tarrant County College. Im kind of 50/50 on the idea so far. The "good" side is that it pays well with great benefits. The down side is I will be without pay for 3 months and there is no garaunteed position after graduation.

Of course the college is saying there is a good chance of being hired directly out of school but they wont quote a percentage. Not even an estimate. Sooo does anyone out there actually do this for a living that can tell me more about it? How hard/easy is it to find a position? Do they do alot of layoffs? etc.

Thanks,
~James

[hotrodhendrix]

Anyone?

[Komachi]

Answers to be found in the Employment Forum, maybe?

[RRspatch]

Anyone?

Check your messages. I sent you a PM on this subject

[jz441]

There is always a need for dispatchers at BNSF... I have several friends who left the engine seat to be dispatchers and they love it! BNSF has the highest paid dispatchers in the industry...

[spatcher]

BNSF dispatchers are NOT the highest paid in the industry.

[Rtrain]

dealing with dispatchers all day i would love to do it myself for a day to see how it works. definitely an overlooked yet important job.

[COEN77]

dealing with dispatchers all day i would love to do it myself for a day to see how it works. definitely an overlooked yet important job.

To the public it's overlooked. To a train crew their our life line at times are only communication especially since EO#26 the banning of cell phones. A train dispatcher has a lot of responsibility dealing with up to 400 miles of mainline track and rail yards. When I started railroading there was one TD assigned to every subdivision with technology like every other job the railroads put more work on one person. I have a lot of respect for TD's it takes a lot of patience to put up with train crews, yardmasters, track forces, signal maintainers ect...on a daily basis.

[hattrick]

I am a dispatcher for a class 1 railroad. I would not pay to go to dispatching school. With the down economy, more than likely you will just be wasting your money. Railroads have a surplus of manpower right now, especially in the operating department

[TheOperator]

Anyone know if there are any dispatching openings out there for a 9-year towerman? Back here in Beantown they don't seem to think towermen are more qualified to dispatch than ticket sellers and newbies to the rail industry. Just getting a little discouraged is all... wouldn't mind a change of scenery either