Train Dispatcher - Train Dispatcher Union Pacific Employee Review

2.0
Dec 1, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Work was a true 8 hours. Work was online real time transactions. No conference calls. Ample training. Real life resources and subject matter experts to consult. It was the one place I worked in which no one ever made me feel bad for asking a question even if I should have already known the answer from experience. Railroad retirement rather then social security.

Cons

Corporate Culture. Every level from the yard, to the trainmen, to maintenance, to the dispatchers were not provided adequate tools or staffing to do their job. Hence, every call is a problem. The people that get promoted and retained is unexplainable. Even with a six figure salary, 401(K) match, railroad retirement etc I hated having to go to work their each day. Very little career mobility. These folks fired people and sold off assets (selma farms) to get to their operating ratio.

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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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