transporting railroad crews for $$$

[cyndi]

A friend of mine is working for this outfit which provides transportation for railroad crews<br><br><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #000080; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.professionaltransportationinc.com/careers/driver-application/</span></span><br><br>They have locations everywhere!<br><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #000080; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.professionaltransportationinc.com/careers/pti-branch-locations/</span></span>

 

[VanTrekker]

I just got hired for a company that does the railroad crew transport thing in the Cedar Rapids area.&nbsp; I start tomorrow and will be driving their van and using their gas.&nbsp;&nbsp; The pay is not the greatest - burger joint wages - but you sit on your fanny and drive... There is no physical work.&nbsp; I've pretty much shelled out one ankle working on my feet all the time at other jobs. <br><br>The biggest reason that people quit is the many hours that you are on-call.&nbsp; That's no big deal for me.. as long as there is a weekend with two consecutive days, I'm happy!&nbsp; If the on-call thing gets to be too demanding, I'll just park and sleep at Walmart - it's just 1/2 mile away.<br><br>The biggest requirements are:&nbsp; Availability, clean driving record, availability, pass Homeland Security check, availability, pass drug test, etc.&nbsp; It helps if you mention you have a van and lots of experience driving it.<br><br>I'll let you know how it goes.&nbsp; It has the potential to be a fun, easy job for those of us who like driving big heavy things around.&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>V.T.

 

[my_vantasy]

I knew someone who did this for a short while. Like you said, the pay is not the greatest and the on-call hours mean you can be called at any time to go pick up a crew. He left for these reasons. He was a major job-hopper, though, so your work ethic is most likely stronger. Good luck!!

 

[VanTrekker]

I'm a major job hopper but have been looking for something that won't kill me physically.&nbsp; I don't mind giving up some time.&nbsp; The only that could kill it is being on call for long periods, going in, and working for an hour.&nbsp; That would be a show stopper.&nbsp; Short of that, it will be interesting to see how it goes!<br><br>V.T.

 

[VanTrekker]

<p>So far so good... I've been doing this for a week and put in 58 hours already.&nbsp; They do pay overtime.&nbsp; A typical shift is 10 - 12 hours.&nbsp; I sit in the van all night and occasionally drive the crew from the head end (the front) to the back of trains as they are being assembled.&nbsp;&nbsp;There are occasional out of town trips, too.&nbsp; Often I will sit (paid) with nothing to do for hours!&nbsp; Most of my hours are on the overnight shift.&nbsp; Everyone dozes a little between tasks, making sure to answer the radio. </p><p>The hours are long, you are on call a lot, but the money is adding up!&nbsp; It's a fun job!<br><br>The only recommendation I would make is that it's best for single people or retired people.&nbsp; It would not be a good fit for a single mom or young couples.&nbsp; A person doesn't get to have much of a life.</p>

 

[Laughing Richard]

Hello VanTrekker,<br>Thanks for the update. Do you use the company's van or your own van? During your on the job waiting hours are you allowed to have your computer to surf the internet? Does the company ask you to travel much from your original hiring city to do work or is it mostly close by?<br>Richard

 

[VanTrekker]

I work for a different company than the one listed here... but things work similarly.<br><br>It's a company van with their gas.&nbsp; Zero expense to me!&nbsp; The van is like a 2011 ish Ford E-350.&nbsp; It's a nice machine...<br><br>We are allowed to do about anything we want while waiting for a call.&nbsp; I circle words in a puzzle book and occasionally snooze.&nbsp; A girl at another facility knits a lot!&nbsp; We're on a large creek so I'm thinking about throwing a couple of lines in and before going home in the morning, checking for catfish!<br><br>There are two types of assignments... So far, I'm only doing yard assists.&nbsp; I stay on or close to the local R.R. property and shuttle the guys back and forth as they build up trains and push them to storage tracks, go to the hotel at night, etc.&nbsp; The other assignment is to take a crew back to their home town, often 90 miles away.&nbsp;&nbsp; The out of town trips are few and far between.&nbsp; I like the local stuff 'cause you are closer to home - less risk and the length of assignment is longer.&nbsp; (10 hours in the local&nbsp;yard vs. just 3 or 4 hours for an out of town trip).