Apprentice Freight Car Repair - Council Bluffs, IA

Union Pacific • Rockwell City, IA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Join a leading North American railroad company in a three-year training program to become a skilled Freight Car Repairer. The apprentice gains hands-on experience inspecting, repairing, and rebuilding freight cars, performing scheduled and on-demand maintenance, and repairing or replacing defective components on rolling stock. The position requires compliance with railroad safety and operating rules and Federal Railroad Administration guidelines.

Requirements

• Basic mathematics skills.
• Valid driver's license.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience reading and understanding instructions, such as operating and safety rules, bulletins, special instructions, and federal regulatory documents.
• Successfully complete an English-language assessment before proceeding to the interview stage.
• Successfully pass a Physical Ability Test.
• Be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship.
• Be prepared to live and work at the selected location.
• Stand for more than half of the workday; walk frequently and maintain balance on varied surfaces; coordinate hand movements to grasp, place, or move objects; push and pull up to 93 pounds; lift up to 85 pounds; occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, and climb.
• Perform tasks at heights of 18 feet or above.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency operating heavy equipment, such as construction machinery or farm equipment; professional, personal, and volunteer experience are considered.
• Experience working with personal protective equipment, such as safety glasses, safety boots, hard hats, and hearing protection.
• Demonstrated ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Welding proficiency or a welding certificate, supported by professional, personal, or volunteer experience.
• Experience operating tools used to repair freight or passenger cars, such as 100-ton jacks, air tools, compressors, generators, welders, hydraulic equipment, or torches.
• Flexibility to work on-call, overtime, various shifts, weekends, holidays, and potentially seven days a week.
• Willingness and ability to work in confined or small spaces.
• Ability to work safely around large equipment such as railcars, locomotives, and cranes.

Responsibilities

• Inspect freight cars to identify defects, wear, and damage from derailments or collisions.
• Perform maintenance tasks, including initial terminal air brake tests and pre-trip inspections.
• Repair rolling-stock structural components, including fabricating, cutting, or rough-finishing metal and wood replacement parts, and fastening or assembling parts by riveting, bolting, or welding.
• Remove and replace faulty components, including trucks, shoes, coupler assemblies, and air brake systems.
• Prepare surfaces for painting, welding, and fabrication by cleaning them and ensuring they are ready.
• Safely operate tools and equipment such as acetylene torches, hand and power tools, electric and gas welding equipment, shop machines, and vehicles.
• Communicate technical information, work-procedure recommendations, and other work-related information verbally and in writing to colleagues, supervisors, contractors, and customers.
• Build positive working relationships and resolve situations involving coworkers, supervisors, contractors, and customers.
• Comply with railroad safety and operating rules and Federal Railroad Administration guidelines.
• Perform other assigned duties.

Benefits

• Ongoing learning and development.
• Educational assistance, including online and in-person courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha at little to no out-of-pocket cost.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a 20% match up to 5%.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, collectively bargained through union membership.
• Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed