Because it pays well, doesn't even need education and really is a job where you don't have a boss on you 24/7. Then I talked to others and figured out there are Jobs that pay over $100k without a college degree where you aren't treated like a t–d. Railroading can be an easy job, can be highly paid and can be dangerous also- but it's not worth being treated like garbage by management and the Company as a whole. If you are considering a job with NS (or any railroad) realize you WILL be laid off for many years, they want to eliminate Conductors and automate the entire job (road thru freight) and the seniority you will need to hold a high paying job will probably never materialize for a long time. Just run away, join the trades many Unions will pay to train you to be an electrician, plumber, ect.
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Someone like a conductor is really only an unskilled laborer . Where else besides the railroad are your "skills" needed. Face reality, you will end up working as a Walmart greeter for 8 dollars an hour. Consider your time on the railroad as being an overpaid stooge.
Definitely true that there are a good number of jobs out there that will match a mechanical employees pay. You just need to look around for them and realize it can be a process 3-6 months to land a $30+/hr job with many companies. There’s a reason you may see a lot of “$15/hr sweatshop jobs” advertised. It’s called high turnover, people only stay until they land something better. You’ll find that in almost every profession even white collar, there’s always that company that wants to pay way below going rate....... As for the transportation folk out there, yes you’re right, it’s going to be hard finding a job out there without a degree bringing in what you do with all the OT. That said, most of y’all have no life outside the RR. I hope the best for you guys but if you are a younger guy, you’d be a fool to think it’s a bright future as a lifelong career. I am sure many of you will disagree with me but automation is coming. There will be some resistance at first but it’s going to start with single man crews in the next 10 years.
That guy is absolutely full that guy is absolutely full of $hit.... just got hired at a facility that makes energy at what I was making in mechanical department and I’m gonna get a Substantial increase after 6 Months.... those jobs are out there. Just keep looking
Nobody cares what you "used to think"
Let's see....journeyman electrician $37/hr, elevator repairman $50+/hr, nuclear plant worker $45+ hr, carpenter $40+/hr......I could go on. And all these jobs require nothing more than HS diploma and paid OJT...
This guys full of sh$& 👇
There isn't a lot off 32 dollar an hour jobs out there. You are more likely to get a job for 15 or 16 dollars an hour in a sweat shop . That's the hard reality of the job market in the capitalist U.S. where your only going to be paid what it costs to replace you.