Good solid company - Manager BNSF Railway Employee Review

4.0
Mar 16, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong culture, pride in their history and the part they play in sustaining the economy, professional development opportunities, good pay, decent bonus program, ability to transfer to new roles in other departments. Turnover is very low, people join the railroad and stay till it's time to retire, which shows you that people are generally happy. All companies have office politics but I have seen less of it here than at other companies -- people are too busy to spend their time on shenanigans. There is no dead weight there, at least not for very long. Very strong safety culture. I liked everyone I worked with there, how often does that happen in a workplace?

Cons

Culture can be resistant to change. People stay there for decades, mostly a good thing but means some leaders are set in their ways and you WILL NOT get them to budge. Annual pay increase is less than any other company I have ever worked at, around 2 percent, even when getting a really good review. So aside from bonuses, the only way to grow your income is through promotions but there is always lots of competition for those. Also, 401K match not as good as other companies Ive worked at. Everyone is busy to the extreme and its almost impossible to get leadership to add headcount to manage workload. The company relies too much on contractors, which may save money on benefits but 1 contractor does not equal 1 full time employee any day of the week.

Explore other reviews about BNSF Railway

5.0
Jun 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

This is a great place to start and grow your career, especially as an MT, with tons of opportunities to take on projects and explore what interests you. Leadership at every level is genuinely supportive and approachable, and people across the company are always willing to teach, mentor, and help you succeed. Compensation and benefits are competitive, and the Business Resource Groups really add to the sense of community and development.

Cons

There are so many opportunities that it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming figuring out what path to focus on. Balancing day-to-day work with all the development options can be a bit challenging depending on your role and workload.

5.0
Jul 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great people and strong coworkers across the organization. The company offers competitive pay, strong benefits, and good overall stability. There are many experienced employees who care about the work and are willing to help others succeed.

Cons

The organization can be very hierarchical, which sometimes makes it difficult to drive change or move quickly. Decisions often require multiple layers of approval, so it can take longer than expected to finalize direction or make progress. There is also limited flexibility compared to what many other companies offer, especially when it comes to working arrangements.

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