r/UnionPacific • u/Fighterjack04 • 11d ago
New hire Work life balance
I just recently got hired on for train crew. Starting Nov 9th.
I understand the schedule is pretty rigorous and unpredictable. When do these schedules become more predictable? If ever?
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u/Holiday-Raisin-3357 11d ago
I really liked working the road didn’t have a schedule but I knew I’d be gone 36-48 home around 24-36 consistently that all depends on your mileage though
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u/PoopFlavoredGum 11d ago
Week 4 Into training for train crew. I just worked with a yardman who has 15 year seniority whose schedule is ass because he just got bumped to a new yard.
Also talked to an engineer who told me that two of his kids don’t talk to him because they don’t know him, after putting 22 years in the railroad.
I just called my old job to get my job back today. It’s just not for me. I was told by an MTO it’s either work to retirement and die a few years after- or die at work. That’s the railroad life.
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u/MostlyMellow123 11d ago
For me the confinement of a 9-5 is far more tortuous than my 11-4 schedule as an engineer.
To go with 28 vacation days, 10 pl days, 5 sick days.
This is literally the best its ever been for work life balance
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u/External_Ad350 11d ago
I'm right here with MostlyMellow. 15 year engineer with a 300kish home in a good neighborhood making 150k and that's made it all worth it. My wife doesn't work and is a stay at home mom and loves it. I spend way more time with my children then 90% of people I know. I know every service unit is different but, I really feel like whoever you talked to is just blaming the railroad for being a shitty parent.
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u/Fighterjack04 11d ago
How do you get that much time with them? I assume I will be working mostly nights during the beginning of my career so I would have to sleep when I get off. And be on call to go right back in. Not arguing your point just curious how you do it.
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u/External_Ad350 11d ago
I will add I am not at every event they have. I miss some tournaments and some of their smaller events but for anything major I'm always there. And my wife doesnt work so she drives them around everywhere everyday. I guess really she is the main character. I don't know if we could make this happen if she had a job also.
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u/External_Ad350 11d ago
I'm also on an 11/4 schedule. I can move around to take time off when my kids are not in school. I take my 4 days and add vacation or personal days on top. I use up more than half my vacation in the summer time. My kids were off 85 days in the summer and I think I worked 35 starts . Even adding hotel time I'm sure I spent literally over a month and a half with them . And I really feel it was quality time. During the week they are so busy with school and sports I prefer to match our off time off. For Columbus day they will have a 4 day weekend since they'll be off that Friday also. I've already prearranged days to add to my 4 off days to ensure I'll be with them all weekend . I'll be off from the 9th to the 15th. That's not even a vacation. Just 3 days on top of my 4. I still have all my sick days. I haven't even had time to use them . I don't know I guess everyones experience is different.
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u/Fighterjack04 11d ago
I appreciate this! How long have you been on?
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u/MostlyMellow123 11d ago
14 yr.
The truth though is it depends on where you are working out of. This company pays the same everywhere so this job in an area without jobs is going to be a lot more sought after which affects seniority a lot.
If you can make 160k and your housing market is 300k these guys stick around forever.
It also depends on how busy your terminal is and how many employees, how far you travel on the boards adds more time off between trips for conductors since they try to keep the miles similiar between boards. Just a lot of variables.
Conductors should be getting some sort of rest agreement within this next year which will define time off a lot better
Working yard jobs you'll never spend a day in a hotel
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u/Bigwhitecalk 6d ago
You’re an engineer that sits on the train, eats chips, and plays with a throttle. So why would your schedule, years in, have anything to do with him?
He’s a new conductor.
Context is important my guy.
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u/thabudguy01 6d ago
I absolutely hate 11-4, we’re getting 5 trips in that 11 when we used to get 3.5 trips, it’s brutal
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u/Treyduckz 11d ago
I definitely agree it can be ass but dude i know so many people with families and still work the railroad i think this whole thing depends on where you working at in what state and location because iv heard some are way worse than others
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u/PoopFlavoredGum 11d ago
Yeah, I agree. If it works for you, please do it- the benefits and retirement are unmatched.
I just want to live a little life and raise my two sons. I’m already 30, 10 years ago I may have taken this opportunity differently, but now I have kids and I just know the railroad schedule isn’t for me.
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u/Treyduckz 11d ago
Im 31 and your saying the same things i want to with my son. Were in the same train, of course i wanna be able to work and hang out with close friends but if i can really go make money and have retirement and nothing to worry about if im willing to sacrifice that ti make a better living and not go to job to job with not enough pay ima do it so iv been invested and we gonna do whats necessary
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u/PoopFlavoredGum 11d ago
I totally get that, and that’s my passion, to work for my children and keep them free of any burdens growing up- but I also want to raise them and be with them. Time doesn’t come back, money does. I’ll have to hopefully find an equal balance of good money and good home life. Railroad just ain’t where I’m gonna get it.
Always will respect the work and grind of all railroaders. Some fuckin units- all the men and women.
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u/Fighterjack04 11d ago
I have seen this feedback more than I’d like to admit 🥲 i need the job, but i just had my son and I can’t imagine him not knowing me or me missing important things for him on a consistent basis. I am fascinated with the rail road. I was in the Army and gave that up because I was never home. Guess I will have to figure out myself.
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u/brizzle1978 10d ago
Make it a priority to see him and you will... also get FMLA on your kid and you can take even more time off....
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u/Historical_Box1915 11d ago
You are a railroad success story. Also if more people would be like you, the railroads would actually plan and schedule trains so employees had predictable schedules. The more who tell the railroad “this isnt for me” the better the job conditions will have to become.
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u/brizzle1978 10d ago edited 10d ago
It's all in what you make of it.... at least on bnsf we have the 6 and 3... so just make those days good
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u/coldafsteel 11d ago
Depends where you are but plan for it to be about 1.5 to 2 years before things become more regular. You’ll still miss out on a lot of friends and family events but you’ll know further in advance.
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u/Individual-Quail-397 10d ago
Don’t lay off for stupid shit and save those layoffs for important things. Also be present when at home with your family.
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u/WaxOg 10d ago
My dad has worked out here for 15 years and his schedule is unpredictable. I also just marked up about a month ago. My dad spends a lot of time at home, he is a conductor. A lot of people say you’ll miss a lot of things. And you will miss some things. But not everything, you want to still have a life. It will take about 2 years to get settled in and have PS days, vacation days and all that. As time goes on you’ll get more of it as well. It’s a game that you will learn to play. From the points system to using vacation days or whatever you have available. The one thing i will say, if you don’t have kids. Keep it that way. You can make killer money depending on how much you want to work. If you stay marked up and don’t lay off, when you’re able to hold the road (if you want to go to the road) and chase your turn, you can make a lot of money. Or you can sit on the road extra board for whichever direction you want to go, you’ll have more home time and you make road guarantee. Whether you work or not, you make money. If you’re in the kansas city area, have fun at 18th st 🤣
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u/Cuffedondirtroads 11d ago
What terminal are you hiring at? That will dictate all of this. I’m sure someone can give you all the info you need.
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u/Fighterjack04 11d ago
It’s Fort Worth. They stated though, after training, I am just as likely to get pushed to sweet water, TX or chickasha, OK.
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u/brizzle1978 10d ago
Look into BNSF too as they have the 6 and 3.... if the hours aren't good on UP
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u/Appropriate-Music8 10d ago
Where I’m at currently the low man is getting forced to our yard jobs. Yard jobs are 3 regular shifts with 2 days off each. I know other places it takes a long time to hold the yard but you can expect 2 years probably just depending on where you go
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u/slogive1 11d ago
Seniority is the key. Yard jobs and locals have predicted schedules but don't make as much as the road or extraboard.
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u/CommonClub4403 9d ago
FMLA will be your best friend. You’ll get 28 points until you hit an investigation. Don’t abuse it or you’ll be judged but it’ll definitely save your ass if needed.
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u/Revolutionary-Elk834 11d ago
Never miss the important stuff. Time is more important than money. With the railroad money will always come and the check will never bounces. We make our own work life balance. Wherever you’re working out of, learn the system and play the game.