i have a few questions im going to minot on tuesday for a class with bnsf do they pay for loddging while your in ojt? and do you start right away or is there a waiting period ? also do you pay for meals?
Wish I could answer that with positive assurance. I'd say be prepared to pay for your own room and lodging. It's possible that should you go to work right away, they may reimburse you. Just don't expect that.
Your letter from BNSF should have explained that or at least the personnel wonk that invited you to the class. Dont take this as gospel but I would think that in this case your lodging will be at your expense. I am guessing that you are being hired for Minot. Since that will be considered your home terminal you will be expected to provide your own lodging. You will be paid a student stipend. I dont know how much it is now, but when I hired out, it was $50 p/day. Is this a class or an interview? Normally training takes several weeks or months during which you have classroom instruction and qualifying trips. At the end of your training period you take your qualifying exam and if you pass it and have been in service the required "derail period"( 60-90 days depending on terminal)without absence or marking off, you will be officially hired and will be paid according to schedule and local agreements. You also will most likely have to pay for your own meals as well. I didn't have to pay for lodging since we were sent to N.A.R.S. in Overland Park KS for both conductor and engineer training. The company provided lodging and we were given a meal allowance($25 p/day)in addition to the student stipend. If this is just an interview, it's anyones guess as to when you will be "hired". The thing to do in that case is keep calling them to find out what's happening. Do this until you get an answer one way or another. Sometimes they stall intentionally to weed out those who are just looking for the first offer to come thru. Also please note that what I just wrote basically applies to operating departments jobs, ie conductor, switchman, engineer,hostler etc. Charlie
