Apprentice Freight Car Repair - Council Bluffs, IA

Union Pacific • Rockwell City, IA

111d • Onsite

About The Position

Join a leading North American railroad company in a comprehensive three-year training program to become a skilled Freight Car Repairer. The apprentice gains knowledge and hands-on experience inspecting, repairing, and rebuilding freight cars, including scheduled and on-demand maintenance and the repair or replacement of defective rolling-stock components. The role is based in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and pays $35.05 per hour.

Requirements

• Basic mathematics skills.
• Valid driver's license.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills for conveying information to coworkers and supervisors.
• 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, separate from the medical exam.
• Be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship.
• Able to stand for more than half of the workday, walk frequently, maintain balance on varied surfaces, and use coordinated hand movements to grasp, place, or move objects.
• Able to push and pull objects weighing up to 93 pounds and lift items weighing up to 85 pounds; occasionally bend, stoop, and kneel.
• Able to climb occasionally to access cars and work vehicles.
• Able to 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 in environments requiring personal protective equipment, such as safety glasses, safety boots, hard hats, and hearing protection.
• Demonstrated ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions; professional, personal, and volunteer experience are considered.
• Welding proficiency or a welding certificate, supported by professional, personal, or volunteer experience.
• Skill 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, including initial terminal air brake tests and pre-trip inspections.
• Repair rolling-stock structural components, including fabricating, cutting, or rough-finishing replacement parts made of metal or wood; assemble or fasten car 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, including acetylene torches, hand and power tools, electric and gas welding equipment, shop machines, and vehicles.
• Communicate technical information, work procedures, recommendations, and other job-related information verbally and in writing to colleagues, supervisors, contractors, and customers.
• Build positive working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, contractors, and customers, and resolve situations that arise.
• Comply with railroad safety and operating rules and regulations, including Federal Railroad Administration guidelines.
• Perform other assigned duties as required.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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