Pros
Split shift leaves ample time to take classes or handle business in the morning. The starting pay (I work in a California yard) is pretty good considering you don't need a college degree or even a GED to get in. Also, there are benefits (not very good ones though) and raises every year.
Cons
VERY little room for meaningful advancement. Outside of becoming a behind-the-wheel trainer or a classroom instructor (which only guarantees a $.25 raise and a 30 hour week), supervisor/management or decent paying salaried jobs are hard to come by and you have to wait in a seniority line to get one (which could take years).The ceiling pay for drivers currently stands at around $18/hr. (7+ years work), you are only guaranteed part-time hours (even though there are opportunities to work more every week if you make yourself available), and there is a clear distinction made between the management, payroll, and dispatcher departments and the drivers (who are the backbone of the company). They don't even refer to the drivers as staff.
