Los Angeles conductor trainee questions

gareth359yzf Mar 19, 2013

  1. gareth359yzf

    gareth359yzf New Member

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    hi guys first time in the forum. I have just been offered a the position of conductor trainee for the Los Angeles bnsf facility. I'm in ding a lot of info out there regarding the job but want to see if I can have it summed up in one post. after I hire out of training what can I expect? more particular what job? Will I be working a yard job or road job? I also find varying info on starting pay. How much can expect the first year? and second through fifth. I understand this is computed based on many factors but a average or estimate would be great. if there is anyone on here that has hired out as a conductor in LA I want to hear from you. thanks again.
     
  2. Metro Red Line

    Metro Red Line TrainBoard Member

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  3. USAF_Andrew

    USAF_Andrew TrainBoard Member

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  4. jogden

    jogden TrainBoard Member

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    While I cannot answer all of your specific questions, maybe I can provide some general information. I hired out with BNSF a few years ago in Glendive, MT.

    During your training period, you will receive training pay, which around here is about $700 per week. It is basically a flat rate they pay you, for eight hours each day, six days per week. You won't get much overtime during training. I believe training in Los Angeles is 16 weeks, because that is a former Santa Fe terminal. There will be certain jobs they will have you work during training, so that when you get out, you will be familiar with all the jobs in the terminal. At least, familiar enough to get through them if you get called for them.

    How much you make in a year as a Conductor really depends on what jobs you work and how often you work. Typically the road jobs pay more than the yard jobs, but the yard jobs are typically on a more regular schedule and run regardless of traffic levels. Road jobs can be better money, but you will be on call all the time, and the amount of road jobs available will fluctuate as traffic levels fluctuate. If you take lots of days off, you make less money through the year. If you work as often as you can and take few or no days off, you make more. Generally Conductor jobs pay more than Brakeman jobs also, although you will be qualified to do both at the end of training. You make more money in your second or third year just because you will gain seniority and be able to work some of the better jobs. While I cannot say what people in Los Angeles are making in a typical year, I can tell you that most Conductors in Glendive are making somewhere in the area of $70,000 to $80,000, again depending on what jobs they work and how often they work.

    Someone in Los Angeles could tell you better what jobs to expect to work. I think in most places the Extra Board is a common place for guys with less seniority to work. The Extra Board can be pretty unpredictable as far as when you will work and how often you will work. The purpose of the Extra Board is to have people on call for when someone else had time off or is sick, or doesn't answer the phone. Typically when you are on the Extra Board they can call you for any job for which you are qualified.

    After the Extra Board, in Glendive at least, the regular road pool jobs are the next easiest to work. Generally in Glendive, the more senior employees either work in the yard or on the helper pool. It is my understanding that in many terminals, it is exactly the opposite, in that most of the more senior employees prefer the road pools because they pay better and usually have some sort of scheduled time or days off. Again, someone in LA could better answer the specific questions about LA. Extra Board is a common place to start out though.
     

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