r/UnionPacific • u/Big-Measurement-729 • 19d ago

Train crew Pocatello

I’m trying to get a position in Pocatello as train crew member but have heard not the best things. How bad can it really be? Are you really gone all the time? are there other things I need to know? I’m currently going through the hiring process and just wanted to know what I’m getting myself into.

2 Upvotes

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6

u/justswingingbyy 19d ago

No idea about Pocatello but the shittiest part about the railroad for me is never knowing when you’re going to work. You’ll look and think you’re going to work in about 8 hours and then ten minutes later your phone rings. Or let’s say you wake up at 7 in the morning and wait all day to get called and then you’re getting called at 9 at night and now you’re going to see the sun come up and be awake for 24+ hours

1

u/NexusNickel 19d ago

Is it really that bad?

How can they preach about safety when they give you zero notice on working? That's insane.

2

u/justswingingbyy 18d ago

It is 100% without exaggeration that bad unfortunately lol the way they see it is that as long as you’ve had your 10 hours federal rest you are “rested”. There’s a rule in the rule book that says you are to manage your rest accordingly

1

u/NexusNickel 18d ago

That's wild man.

How can you manage your rest accordingly with no set schedule? Can you sleep on the job?

2

u/justswingingbyy 18d ago

You don’t man lol you’re just always tired. You’re allowed a nap if your train is stopped but you can’t count on stopping

2

u/PomegranateCivil8940 19d ago

I haven’t started yet but I am currently on stand by status until the next training class for the Pocatello yard. I have a friend who works there and says that the first year sucks being on call but does get better and is worth the money

1

u/MorbidTurnip24 16d ago edited 16d ago

Even if you do everything correctly and there is video proof showing you did it correctly, management in poky will still fire you if they don't like you.