Discuss your concerns on your age here. I hear and see a ton of questions on this topic and feel it should be talked about. I started this because the 40's are the new 30. So that makes me 19+ or something..... haha!
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Am I too old to work for the railroad?
(36 posts) (10 voices)-
Posted 3 months ago #
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Phoenix595
MemberYes, it does seem the railway values the life experience of candidates in their recruitment process. It should be more likely that an older applicant can decide sooner if the job is right for them. The total dollar amount I heard for training a new hire to qualified status was around $100k !!!
Posted 3 months ago # -
rail
MemberHonestly, and I have said it before on this site, I have personally experienced age discrimination and have seen it in action with others. If you haven't experienced it in your yard, then good for you and I want to know where you work so I can bump you. :D
But, if this is truly what you want to do with the rest of your life and can let things COMPLETELY roll off your back then I say go for it, BUT GET JOB INSURANCE. Because there is absolutely no reason that older folks cannot work for the railroad.
I do have to relate this experience however. There is an engineer, and I don't know if he's still there or not; and I won't say where, but if you really want to know you can probably figure it out by where I've said I have worked; but he was known to fall asleep on the job. In one instance a conductor had gone in between to tie up hoses and the train started to roll. His falling asleep at the controls was a typical thing for him to do. He was the engineer on one of my jobs and I couldn't get him on the radio for about 20 minutes and was told this story. Now he is probably pushing 70. In this instance, I feel he should have been terminated, since it was a safety concern and was repeatedly known to happen.
Posted 3 months ago # -
ALB
ModeratorI can only say what I have posted before. Maybe BNSF is different, I don't know. However I hired on at 57 with quite a few mid forty guys. Last week I worked with 3 different gals and they were treated the same as anyone else, one was a Hostler and she had 30 years of service. Also 2 gal Yardmasters who came up through the ranks.
Back to the age question, a friend of mine close to the hiring process tells me the RR's are cheesed off paying a fortune to train young folks who then quit because of family pressures. Us older folk usually know what we want and don't have the same level of family commitment.
Posted 3 months ago # -
ALB
Moderatorrail - Not marked up yet but my comments and observations are from talking to, working with and observing those who are. I don't in any way disbelieve you, it's just that I am not seeing this type of attitude in Seattle.
Another thought, maybe it depends on where in the USA you are working, we all know that some areas of the country have different attitudes to others, Seattle is quite liberal
Posted 3 months ago # -
railspiker13
MemberI spent 15 years in the airline industry and am trying to get on in the railroad industry. I am in the conditional offer phase with BNSF for Conductor Trainee and I am in my early 40's. I am career minded and feel that I can offer 20-25 years of service if hired, enough to make it to 62yrs of age to retire with some benefits! Age is just a number, only YOU know how you feel and what you can and can't do! GO FOR IT! You got nothing to lose and LOTS to gain... good luck!
Posted 3 months ago # -
Yeah ALB hired out at 57!!
Posted 3 months ago # -
rail
MemberALB,
I know, and this was brought up before by Johnbea about his experiences in Wyoming. You would think California would be the more open minded, liberal state but apparently not. It is something for me to think about in the future and this site has been valuable to me in getting feedback from others about their experiences in other states in case I decide to make a move. Now I just need to find the perfect climate + the perfect liberal attitude. Does anyone work for BNSF in Hawaii? :D
Posted 3 months ago # -
Last thing I would think about when going to Hawaii is the rail. Too many drop offs when getting off the train to highball... Ha! That would be cool though, instead of water bottles we would have coconuts and instead of road flares we would have tiki torches!
Oh the dreams! One good thing is we can all go there to watch others work for us on a nice long vacation and when we pack.... We won't have to bring our spiked Winter boots... :)
Posted 3 months ago # -
On a serious note, I have noticed during training at REDI, they wanted us to stick to our guns with our wording on the radio. I must say it makes sense for what they taught, but when you are out in real life, one guy can't make the difference. When you are at REDI, and you say STOP, they ease the train down to a good stop, but when you are in a yard and say stop on a shove... Holy flippin crap! Everyone stops, you hear brakes screaching for miles! I will stick to my "That'll do" any day of the week. Has anyone else noticed how training differs from the real world to just getting out of school?
Posted 3 months ago # -
ALB
ModeratorDamn right mate, I am just finishing my 3 weeks of Yard OJT. I have learned a lot from the guys on the ground, Now when coming to a Hook, at 15' I say "Coming in", that slows him down. "Stop" depends on what he's hauling, big train and I am giving him "Stop" at 5'. Also learned, if you have a power crazy hogger, give him 2 cars at 3, if he's a slow coach give him 3 cars at 2
Posted 3 months ago # -
pacgrewes
ModeratorThis is a great post! I remember someone telling me that at near 60 I should be looking forward to my golden yrs in retirement. A friend of mine, a retired engineer just got a job on a class III rr in central fla. at 70yrs old. I was impressed with one who wrote that the rr's are sick of hiring the young only to drop out because of whatever may ail them. With age there is wisdom and stability, we know what we want, and how to keep it when we get it. 65 is an arbitrary number, if you are in good health & good shape the sky is the limit. I, unfortunately, know younger persons worse off than myself, no direction, no ambition...sad! Regardless of your age, it is illegal to discriminate based on age. Do the research, if you feel you can do the job... go for it! Yeah, I maybe nearing 60yrs old, but I feel like a sprite mid 20's to mid 30's. I'd like to say I feel like I'm 19 but that would be a stretch.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Exactly what ALB just said!!! :-)
Posted 3 months ago # -
Great post pacgrewes... You are as young as you feel. I am not disregarding the young either, but with a good work ethic and a driven heart anyone can do this job as a conductor.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Amen!
Posted 3 months ago # -
Any new hires, the "oldheads" will teach you a ton of things within the job but speaking as an "oldy" always pay attention to the rules and adhere to them. The rules will save your job, not the oldheads.
Posted 3 months ago # -
LOL... Yes the napping rule.... The guys applying will cock their heads reading your post about napping and say "what, there is a rule about napping?" Different rule number on my end but yes a rule. New hires you will learn that rule too. I do not pay attention to that rule since I do not sleep regardless if the train is stopped or not. I want my engineer awake too. 4 ears and 4 eyes are better than two. Hard to sleep when you have to Highball trains. Joking pushed away, new hires do what you have to.... Stay awake, listen to the radio, rolling cars, watch the trains coming to you, pay attention to your signals and listen to your gut. If you do that you will live a long life and a long career.
Posted 3 months ago # -
ALB
ModeratorFor your enlightenment, mshaffer is NOT talking about listening to music on a radio, he is refering to Radio trafic between trains and the Dispatcher.
You are NOT allowed to have any personal electronic devices turned on in a Loco cab.
Your cell phone must be turned off NOT on silent. You can use your cell phone under very limited circumstances which I won't go into here.Posted 3 months ago # -
dmccormack
MemberHow about 50 yr. old women? Divorced. Gave up benefits ex had with railroad (best thing about him was the job I got him with ASDDTRR) I know I can do what he does (clerk), I have excellent communication, organization and multi-tasking skills. I cannot find comparable benefits to provide financial security for the grandchildren I am raising in my current field (medical), and can't waste time and money pursuing another dead end. Honest feed back appreciated,as appears to be what ya'll are all about here.
Thanks so much.Posted 3 months ago # -
You have knowledge dmccormack, I would go with it! If I were you, build your interview around that experience.
Posted 2 months ago # -
EliM2010
Moderatordmccormack
This is what i do as a Clerk same job as your ex. ANYONE can be a clerk (IE an Intermodal Service Representative) all you have to know is basic computer knowledge and just just have some common sence when theres an inspection PS. clerk is MORE then just ingating and outgating containers and getting drivers information and verifying thier information BBBUUTT u must also inspect the containers and chassis coming into and out of the terminals meaning your outside in all types of weather stuck in a booth where the computer is located or outside with a portable handheld computer ..... JUST a heads up if your very much interested!!!!!!!!!!! CHECK THE CSX WEBSITE WHERE THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF CLERK POSITIONS OPENED UP ALL OVER THE CSX NETWORK IN DIFFERENT STATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Direct from the CSX website this is what the job entitles!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Intermodal Service Representative)
Job Summary
Depending on the individual terminal, ISR positions are responsible for various administrative phases of intermodal operations.
Primary Activities and Responsibilities
The gate function includes various aspects of the process involved in admitting/releasing trailers and containers to/from the terminals. This includes:
•Checking equipment for damage
•Verifying equipment numbers and door seals
•Light data entry tasks
•Proficient in MS OfficeThe administrative functions include:
•Customer/driver contact
•Billing issues
•Extensive computer interface
•Equipment inventory
•Office clerical functions
•Other duties as assignedQualifications
Minimum Requirements
•High School Diploma/GED
•18 years of age or older
•Valid Driver's LicensePhysical Requirements
•May include physical agility, including bending, squatting, climbing, lifting, pushing, pulling, and walking
•Driving a tractor/trailer combination in an industrial setting
•The work is considered moderately heavy to heavy industrialEmployment Conditions
•Work safely to prevent on the job accidents and injuries
•Wear protective equipment including hearing protection, work boots and safety glasses
•Work hours may vary including on-call 7 days a week, 24 hours per day and may have short rest between assignments
•Work hours are based on seniority - new hires will work primarily nights, weekends, and holidays
•Must be able to report to work safely with two-hour notice
•Strict disciplinary policy regarding inability to report to work within proper time frame, or failure to accept a call for work
•Complete annual training and pass safety examinations
•Federal regulations require random testing for drugs and/or alcohol
•CSXI does not pay relocation for these positions
•This position is governed by a collective bargaining agreement; membership is required.Environmental Conditions
•Combination of indoor and outdoor work environments in all weather conditions
•May be in a gated booth adjacent to the entry lanesPosted 2 months ago # -
Good luck!
Posted 2 months ago #
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