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Cobrabill · 07-12-2010, 06:21 PM

CN is gonna be hiring:

MONTREAL - Canadian National plans to hire as many as 2,000 new employees annually over the next five years in an effort to replace retiring workers, Bloomberg News has reported. CN CEO Claude Mongeau said the railroad will need to replace nearly half of its workforce in that time.

Mongeau said he foresees growth in both the U.S. and Canadian economies, and he said his railroad will need the employees to keep up. "It's important for us to be there when the business comes," he said. "We don't want to hire too early, but we certainly don't want to hire too late."

Hiring will focus on mechanics, locomotive engineers, and conductors. "Many of these jobs take a lot of time to be trained and we want to do it well. Our challenge is to make sure the people who have been running CN all these years can coach the young generation," Mongeau said.

stimpy · 07-12-2010, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

CN is gonna be hiring:

MONTREAL - Canadian National plans to hire as many as 2,000 new employees annually over the next five years in an effort to replace retiring workers, Bloomberg News has reported. CN CEO Claude Mongeau said the railroad will need to replace nearly half of its workforce in that time.

Mongeau said he foresees growth in both the U.S. and Canadian economies, and he said his railroad will need the employees to keep up. "It's important for us to be there when the business comes," he said. "We don't want to hire too early, but we certainly don't want to hire too late."

Hiring will focus on mechanics, locomotive engineers, and conductors. "Many of these jobs take a lot of time to be trained and we want to do it well. Our challenge is to make sure the people who have been running CN all these years can coach the young generation," Mongeau said.

I live near the EJ&E portion and they will not hire me I guess I am too old ( 43) I tried several times with the J .

Cobrabill · 07-12-2010, 07:38 PM

You are not too old.I hired out with a guy in his mid-50's.If you want to do it-now is gonna be the time.
They are after the older worker.Ex-military especially.

When is the last time you applied?

stimpy · 07-12-2010, 08:04 PM

about 2 years ago .

Cobrabill · 07-12-2010, 08:53 PM

I might be able to find out what they "want to hear".How far in the process did you get?

drailed · 07-13-2010, 04:01 AM

A guy I use to work with here at CP (old D&H) got hired on the CN in Illinois 2 years ago. He wanted to get back home closer to family. Hes in his early 50s. I don't think your to old, we have a few in there 50s that got hired recently. I think these railroads are finding out that more of the younger generation have either known or are related to someone who works for the railroad and are a bit more in tune with how an extra board (on call 24/7) schedule works and and some of these kids do not want anything to do with it. They're holding out for that Monday through Friday 8-4 job starting at $70k/year. I am an engineer with 13 years in and can barely hold a Friday through Tuesday afternoon job, but we have also cut a lot of yard/local jobs with the recession that I would be able to hold now. If your thinking about it, get your name in again now!! and keep putting it in. Took me more than once.

Mister421 · 07-13-2010, 04:00 PM

Cobrabill, what do the railroads look for when hiring for conductors, brakemen or engineers? I'm in my late 30's. Given I have no class I railroad experience but I have considerable knowledge of the environment. I'm a white collar professional and have been trying to get into this with no success. I've tried Amtrak, CN, CP, UP, BNSF and only looked at Metra. Thanks in advance.

Cobrabill · 07-14-2010, 03:42 PM

Every thing is safety,safety,safety.Prior experience isn't important.The thing to realize is railroading is a life-style.If you work the extra-board you can work 80 hours in a week.10 on 10 off 10 on 10 off.I'm on a "pool" i work two-days to Yuma & back and then average 60 hours off.ANd this rotates thru the weeks.
If you have kids-you're gonna miss birthdays & ballgames.People will ask you what are you doing Saturday and your truthful answer will be"i don't know".All "plans" go out the window.

But on the other hand,you're getting good money & benefits to "play with trains".
Take a rail to dinner and pick his brain.Preferably someone with less than 10 years on the job.

drailed · 07-14-2010, 04:58 PM

Amtrak is by far your best choice as far as ever having a life if your looking to get into railroading. Prior experience is not important these days as all the class 1s are micromanaged by young inexperienced "railroaders" who failed at being in the field and are out to make a name for themselves now days and prefer new hires don't know anymore than they do. Are you anywhere near where the DM&E has a terminal Mister421?

Cobrabill · 07-14-2010, 05:23 PM

We had a M.O.P that didn't even know that you needed a "reverser" to run a locomotive.

drailed · 07-14-2010, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

We had a M.O.P that didn't even know that you needed a "reverser" to run a locomotive.

LOL, amazing isn't it

Cobrabill · 07-14-2010, 07:41 PM

And he came from the Car dept.

Simple Man · 07-14-2010, 08:13 PM

Sisters fiance works for the NS at the Elkhart IN yards. He's a locomotive electrician, makes a good check, has a steady schedule. Started out as a fueler, moved up. He told me that they were hiring trackmen, electricians, laborers, etc, this last spring.

Cobrabill · 07-14-2010, 08:49 PM

NS= Notzi Southern.

MOW guys earn their pay.A Friend just hired out with the UP in the signal dept.

Cobrabill · 07-18-2010, 05:56 PM

Interesting MOW video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFE8nmKpmXY

455Grandville · 07-18-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

A few pointers from your friendly(?!) neighborhood rail

Let's start with some DON'Ts.
1) A train is really, really big. Can we all accept that? Not even your Ram/F350/Hummer/douche-mobile is a match for a locomotive. You say you have a Cummins diesel? Caterpillar? Detroit? Oooooooh. Well I have an EMD 567 on a bad day, and even its pathetic eighteen-hundred horsepower will pound you and your gleaming pickup into the fourth dimension, so please, stay behind the white line!

They still have 567s in regular service ? (Aside from shortlines)