Tips please

I am looking to get on with BNSF, UP, or CN and have recently sent out apps to all online. Does anyone have any "tips" or any advice to get on the rail. I applied for track maintence I figured that was the easiest place to get on. Thank you for your help!

Know somebody. That's my first tip. Find a reference of someone that is with the company. They. Want someone that understands the "railroad life".
In your resume that you attach, preach safety. Also list every machine or tool you know how to use under special skills.
If you really want to get your foot in, I'd recommend applying to hard to fill locations like Montana and North Dakota. Seem to have a better chance of getting on.
Wish you the best. Good luck!

You'll need a CDL license, if you don't already have one, if you're trying for any job/dept. other than conductor/trainman.

some jobs will train you for your CDL, if you don't have one. if I was you I would just take the tests before anyways.. wouldn't hurt.
I just got on with bnsf with no CDL.

Jakelkauffman wrote:some jobs will train you for your CDL, if you don't have one. if I was you I would just take the tests before anyways.. wouldn't hurt.
I just got on with bnsf with no CDL.

What department?

Sorry just read where you said besides conductor/trainman.
I'm a gang trainman.

Jakelkauffman wrote:Sorry just read where you said besides conductor/trainman.
I'm a gang trainman.

I just looked and you happen to be right. On some of the Maint.of Way jobs they offer CDL training.

I recently got hired as a Locomotive Electrician with CSX, and I do not have a CDL. However, I do plan on taking a break from college for the rest of 2014 so I can focus on my new job and obtain my CDL. I have already arraigned CDL drivers education courses for this year, I should have the CDL within my first 6 months of employment with the railroad.

Jakelkauffman wrote:Know somebody. That's my first tip. Find a reference of someone that is with the company. They. Want someone that understands the "railroad life".
In your resume that you attach, preach safety. Also list every machine or tool you know how to use under special skills.

I agree, safety is supposedly #1 at the railroad that I got hired with. They loved that I was in a safety committee, received all kinds of safety bonuses, had a clean safety record, and was AED/CPR/BBP/First-Aid certified. Safety should be a main point of your resume. Additionally, they want to hire competent individuals, so be sure to elaborate upon this. As stated above, highlight the tools and experience you have. Include any letters of recommendations from former employers or teachers, which can show that you can easily and quickly learn new things.

You have just as much chance getting on in the transportation department as a brakeman/conductor as you would in track maintenance coming in off the street.

If you apply up north for track maintenance your chances are improved drastically. Im from Texas, and just got hired on and went through training, put in my transfer to go back to my home district, and it was approved. no more cold for me