Just a Number - Freight Conductor Union Pacific Employee Review

1.0
Dec 9, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-- Pay is decent, benefits are good but will be shrinking the next few year with the new contract. -- When you are left alone, it can be a decent job. Those moments are fleeting though.

Cons

-- You are just a number in the system. Expect to be treated as such. -- Low-level field management (MYO, MTO, MOP, or whatever their new titles are now) aren't really managers at all. They only seem to exist for the sole purpose of rules testing and discipline. There is no consistency with them in regards to rule interpretations, and has gotten a lot worse with the recent downsizing and new FTX program. -- Harassment and retribution is alive and well at Union Pacific. Especially if you report a safety issue, or don't do favors for management. -- There is no work/life balance. If you are married and have kids, and enjoy spending time with them, look else-ware for a job. You ARE expected to work every holiday, and woe unto you if you mark off. That's even if you use one of your compensated days. You WILL work a lot of hours. 200+ hours a month is not uncommon, and will be gone from home on average trips at least 36 hours, if not more. You are on call 24/7/365, and have no way of knowing when you'll be called next (the train lineups are a joke.) I could go on, but I'll wear out my keyboard.

Explore other reviews about Union Pacific

5.0
Apr 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great flexibility and opportunity to move around within the company

Cons

You travel a good amount for the role depending on your work location.

3.0
Jul 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good benefits Work about every other day Pay has potential to be good

Cons

New hires do 100% of the work for 80% of the pay and won’t get fully compensated for the first 4 years. They are also expected to know every transportation job on site rather than focusing on one area like guys who have been here longer so 20% less pay but required to know more, do more, have to wear orange hats for a full year allowing management to easily identify them on camera or in person so they can watch them more closely hoping to catch them breaking a rule. So less pay but a more stressful work place requiring you to know more and get singled out hoping to catch them in a mistake. There is absolutely zero work life balance. Coming from a place where I had 20 plus years and able to hold a decent amount of PTO to getting a single day of paid vacation the first year and trying to balance a family life while also trying to provide for them is impossible. You sacrifice seeing your children grow up, play sports, go on vacations with them so you can provide for them. By the time you have enough years in to take a vacation with them they are grown and you missed the most important years of their lives. I know this as a child of a railroader and now as a parent who’s children barely get to see him.

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