*rail wars* the freight train strikes back

[Diesel dawg]

Never thought I would live to see the day that there would not be a trucking job available. always figured the need would always grow. I left the road after 3+ years to be around to raise my son. thought it was the rite thing to do,still do! been driving class b concrete trucks for over 10 years. in that time I saw hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of concrete going on the ground on what used to be farms in NJ to build the sprawling warehouse complexes that I'm sure some of you have been to, even did one on an old garbage dump in carteret TP exit 12. HUGE. But what I noticed as my employment neared it's extinction was that many of the warehouses were getting rail docks and new lines run to them. and where there were old lines in some of the older complexes that hadn't been used for many years they were replacing with brand new. start seeing more rail transport commercials on my tv like the one where they zoom in on the freeway that's a parking lot of semi's then morph it into there double stacked container train 3 miles long just motoring along with out a care. Yep there on a mission. With fuel prices what they are makes sense to ship the greater distance by rail the then give us the crumbs. Grim I know but it just may be a hard reality that were all heading for. With all the green house gas issues you know how many tree huggers want to send us to the scrap yards. Depressing post I'm sure but it's just what's going thru my head rite now, been tiring so hard for so long to get back in that seat and the lack of recent exp. bs don't wash. Since the government won't help me with a refresher course since I already have a class a (that is only good for cashing my UI check) maybe they can get me some railroad training! Wooo! Wooo! Gotta pay the bills! I know the economy is in a rut and everything has slowed but cant help wonder how much freight you guys are losing to the rails.

[CDL holder]

Diesel dawg, the rails are way down right now, too. If you read some posts on a website called yardlimits, you will see that they are hurting as well.

Rail has made a comeback and is making a dent on truck traffic, however, they still have limited capacity and obvious limitations. Many of the commercials you see that are pro- rail and anti-truck is an attempt to sway public opinion in favor of trains so that lawmakers will start giving road tax dollars to the rail. An example is the plan to run a mega rail corridor along 81 in VA.

I doubt you'll have much luck in getting funds for rail school. When times are good NS will pay for your schooling. Now none of the railroads are hiring.

[Diesel dawg]

First to the two members who PMed I guess I'm a few posts short to get back to you just yet but I will soon. Then to cdl holder, Yeah I started looking into the rails just after I posted and it seems a bit sparse, although UNION PACIFIC had an ad for no exp. for train crew entry level will train that leads to engineer (over many years I'm sure) Two things wrong for me for that, WRONG COAST and don't think I have enough YEARS LEFT to ever drive the train. But the comedy factor there is too much. can't seem to work my *** back into a semi, but if I did have the years I could drive a train. pretty sure I wouldn't have to lease it either. LOL.

[Cerberus_Kelpie]

Generally Rail Road Companies PREFER young folk with many years seemingly remaining for a substantial career.
LOTS of Travel involved and not every applicant is considered.
Most Engineers appear to be in their 40s and up from what few I've seen.

[Gonfercoffee]

NS will hire you then train you but you owe for the training

CSX uses a railroad school I am pretty sure they have classes in s kearny

Engineers make excellent money
but the only ones able to enjoy it are the wife and kids