I’m starting with UP on the train crew in Fort Worth in a little under a month. I was genuinely excited when I got the opportunity, especially knowing it could be a good career to provide for my family.
However, after reading through this sub, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried. It seems like all I see are negative experiences and people getting fired over the smallest things. I have a strong work ethic, good study habits, and pay close attention to detail, but sometimes it seems like even that isn’t enough.
I guess I’m just looking for some positive experiences or advice from current or former employees. I really want to be excited about starting, but I already feel like I’m walking on eggshells before even showing up. Job security is a big deal for me with a family depending on me.
Any advice for a new hire would be appreciated!

Hello all. I start class in 2 weeks in Roseville and have seen a lot of people on here talk about the critical 12 and how failing to follow them will result in termination during your derail period. Can someone upload a photo or link to what these rules are so I can start becoming familiar with what they are? Thank you

I landed an interview for the signal maintainer position with Union Pacific , I was a conductor before and I have an associates in a related field. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on the interview and what I should make sure I’m knowledgeable in? I’m banking on landing this position.

I landed an interview for the signal maintainer position with Union Pacific , I was a conductor before and I have an associates in a related field. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on the interview and what I should make sure I’m knowledgeable in? I’m desperate to land this position.

Not me but someone i know was recently fired because he was protecting a shove and said "bring it down". The manager on duty pulled him aside and said "down is not a direction, you have to say a direction" and fired him on the spot. He was very close to being out of his derail period so this was very disappointing. He has never been in trouble, given a warning or done anything wrong but was fired right then and there. He tried to explain that he and the person doing the shove had discussed everything beforehand so there was no way for the person to not know what direction to go but the manager wouldn't hear of it.

Is this normal? I go into training next month and if someone can get fired this quickly without warning I want to be prepared. This person is a strict rule follower and works harder than anyone I know so him being dropped just like that was surprising and makes me worry for my own fate 😅 if theres anything that can be done or if you have any advice please let me know.

Make sure to read the new and most recent SGO’s for the procedures when setting out,securing or switching out locomotives. We all we have brothers and sisters so let’s lookout for one another. I’m just putting this out because I know SEVERAL people that never read the SGO’s or just breeze through it. Uncle Pete. Highball.

My RCL license expired and I had my last ride 11/8/25 but I don’t see that on my certification tab just a class 7 with my passed ride when I was doing my RCO training. I’ve been asking the manager for 2 weeks for a ride but why would it expire already? Did the manager not put it in the system correctly or at all? This guy was new at the time. I did rules like 6 months ago and my conductors license is good till 2029

Wondering if anyone on here knows metra train conductor vs UP conductor. Which is better? Is there a big difference overall? TIA

The title says it all. I failed on the ladder hang test when I shifted to my right arm hang test for 1 minute.

Im not gonna complain or bitch about me failing. I want advice to build up my strength for my next test so I can ace it!

Thank you!

Any local conductors ever been told by management to use customer exception on a IP or PL because your short on time and they don't want to relieve you, or for any other reason, and it's not the customers fault?

I caught a bid this past weekend for a gang on a Z5 schedule. I’ve searched what I could think of (I’m a new hire and don’t really know how to access all available resources), I for the life of me can’t seem to find when that schedule works. Any help is appreciated. TIA!

I received a job offer for train crew for Pocatello. Been seeing alot on here about guys getting bumped to other locations within the seniority district. Im going to be moving from Colorado and dont want to get in a pickle with renting a place then having to up and move elsewhere. Does anyone have any insight to this issue? Just curious how likely it is to happen and if it is temporary to work in another place like Nampa, if I were to be hired out for Pocatello. Thanks in advance.

Roseville is getting cut real deep. Any other service units getting it bad? I feel like UP is trying to bully us into taking a borrow out by cutting the boards.

I saw a video on YouTube where a guy was saying that he was hired on in Saint Louis. He did his first two weeks in Little Rock Arkansas, Second two weeks back in Saint Louis, back to Little Rock for weeks 5-6 and then back to Saint Louis to finish out training. The reason why I'm asking is that is I have a truck that has quite a few miles on it. Wondering if I should be prepared to possibly use a relatives car for the travel required for training. Two round trips to Little Rock. Im looking at 2 round trips of about 590 miles a piece. (1180 total travel miles)

Is this information true? Could I possibly be told to report for training elsewhere?

I recently interviewed for Train Crew and yesterday passed the Apprentice Freight Car repair assessment, waiting to start the interview for that. If you had to restart your UP career, which are you starting at. I have both mechanical and heavy equipment experience.

Separated from the company since February, waiting for meeting with union rep. Need to go to the doctor but I’m on job insurance, is there a way to get health insurance while waiting to go back?

Joined a mandatory job overview on Friday for North Platte and Council Bluff, how does the process work after attending? Will a job offer come after the meeting or weeks later??

Recently did an application did assessment and interview that next day is that a good sign ?

UP cutting all over. Now it’s the education benefit dropped to 5.2k per year?

What are the chances of getting “grandfather’d” in?

Likely tripled the time it’ll take to get a BS.

What is the recourse?

Any advice would help.

Does declining an offer in one city hurt or lessen your chance to get a call from another? Got an offer in Sioux City and live in Saint Louis. Saint louis just recieved my video answers a couple days ago but im worried the pool of potential candidates in STL is higher than Sioux City...

Have a split in the road for this situation......I want to know which will give me better experience under my belt if in the future if I want to become a utility Linemen? I searched on the web and it seems like they recommend union pacific as a recommendation for the experience if i go for being a utility linemen in the near future or is a utility locator will be more beneficial?

Thank You.

Just got my email clearing me and start date for 11/30 class in North Platte. Any tips or class or OJT. Just trying to better prepare myself of what I should be expecting. Appreciate any and all info.