Yardmaster Trainee

Overview

Yards are the hubs of activity for Union Pacific. At a yard, railroad cars are packed with freight, and trains are put together car-by-car. As a yardmaster trainee, you are part of the management team for one of Union Pacific's yards.

Your duties will include the direct supervision of the yard's many employees, including train crews and clerks, and the facilitation of the movement of freight. You'll ensure the railroad cars are carrying the right materials, and that trains move into and out of the yard efficiently and safely. You won't work a standard work week. You may work up to 16 hours at a time if needed. This is an opportunity to do work you couldn't do anywhere else, and an opportunity to play a critical role in Union Pacific's day-to-day operations.

Requirements

You must be at least 18 years old. You must be able to speak and read English because you'll be asked to follow various government regulations and instructions, and you will need to communicate these regulations and instructions to others. You must be able to pass the Operations Management Test Battery (see sample). You must be able to distinguish between colors; have basic typing and general computer skills; have basic math skills; prioritize and organize tasks; and work on many things at once.

You'll be working outdoors in all weather conditions – including snow, ice, rain, cold and heat – and may work in confined spaces.

If You Are Offered a Job

We will conduct a thorough background investigation. This will include your Social Security number, criminal and drug history, past employment, education, professional licenses and certifications, military history, driving record, credit history and any other information relevant to the job.

You must complete a medical history questionnaire, a urine drug test and a medical screening to judge whether you are able to perform the essential tasks of the position.

You must also be able to prove that you are a U.S. citizen or that you are authorized to work in the United States.

Pay

Newly hired Yardmaster Trainees can expect to earn a minimum of $195.20 per day, with actual pay dependent upon location and Union-negotiated agreements.

Benefits

You'll receive a competitive benefits package designed to complement your lifestyle. Generally, the agreement benefits package includes health and wellness, retirement and work/life-related benefits.

Health and wellness benefits include:

• Medical, prescription, vision and dental insurance
• Free wellness programs
• Life insurance
• For some crafts, a Supplemental Sickness Benefit Plan

Retirement benefits include:

• 401(k) thrift plan
• Railroad Retirement, a program similar to Social Security

Work/life benefits include:

• Paid vacation and holidays
  (Eligibility for these benefits is determined by the collective bargaining agreement.)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee discounts

Potential Career Path

Training

Yardmaster Trainees receive on-the-job training from a qualified Yardmaster.

Application Process

To apply for a position at Union Pacific, select View Open Positions from any page on this site. You will then be able to view a list of open positions by location or by the type of career you're looking for.

If you select "See Open Positions" from a specific job description page – Apprentice Diesel Mechanic, for example – you will see locations where the job is available. Click on the position that you would like to apply for to see the official job description. When you select "Apply online" from this page, your application has officially begun.

Be prepared to spend 20 to 30 minutes completing your application. Have the following information ready:

• Social Security number.
• Employment history, including employer addresses, supervisor names and titles, and salary history.
• Education and training history, including school names and addresses, years completed, and degrees, certificates and licenses received.
• Military history.
• Three professional references.

You will be asked general questions about your background and qualifications for the job. And, if you have a resume in a word processing document, you will have a chance to cut and paste the text of your resume into your application.

After you apply

You can check the status of your application at any time by selecting Application Status on the Career site homepage. Enter your user ID and password, and you will see the status of any applications you have submitted. If your status is "Currently Being Reviewed," you can click on those words to see more details.

When your status is "Currently Being Reviewed," it means that your application has been successfully submitted and now is in consideration with other people who have applied for the same position. Depending on how many applications we receive and the scheduling of hiring sessions, applications could remain at this status for 60 to 90 days, so please be patient and check back often.

If your status immediately says "Thank You," this means that you are not currently eligible for employment at Union Pacific, based on the information you have provided. Several situations can disqualify you from working at Union Pacific:

• You are not 18 years old.
• You have a disqualifying condition.
• You have not met a requirement specific to the job or location.

Changing your application

Once an online application is submitted, the only information that can be changed or updated is your contact information (name, address, phone number). If you need to update your contact information please click here and enter your user name and password.  If you are invited to a hiring session, you will be given an opportunity to make other updates to your application before your interview.

Interviewing with Union Pacific

If you have applied for a union position, there are two ways you will be contacted for an interview. First, your web status will be updated to "Invited to Hiring Session." When you click on those words, you will receive the time and location of your interview. Second, you will receive a phone call informing you of the update. When we call you, we use the phone number you supplied on your application. So please make sure it’s a number where you can readily be reached.

If you have applied for a non-union position, you will receive a phone call.

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