Apprentice Freight Car Repair - East St. Louis, IL

Union Pacific • St. Louis, MO

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Join Union Pacific as an apprentice in a comprehensive three-year training program to become a skilled Freight Car Repairer. The role provides hands-on experience inspecting, repairing, and rebuilding freight cars, including scheduled and on-demand maintenance and repair or replacement of defective rolling-stock components. The position is based in East St. Louis, Illinois, and pays $36.36 per hour.

The work requires compliance with railroad safety and operating rules and Federal Railroad Administration guidelines. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship and should apply only to locations where they are prepared to live and work. Applicants must complete an English-language assessment before interview consideration and pass a Physical Ability Test; the PAT is separate from the medical exam. Work includes tasks at heights of 18 feet or above.

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 requiring company sponsorship.
• Ability to remain standing for more than half of the workday, walk frequently, maintain balance on various surfaces, and coordinate hand movements to grasp, place, or move objects.
• Ability to push and pull objects weighing up to 93 pounds and lift items weighing up to 85 pounds; occasionally bend, stoop, and kneel.
• Ability to climb occasionally to access cars and work vehicles.
• Ability to perform tasks at heights of 18 feet or above.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency operating heavy equipment, including 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, including through professional, personal, or volunteer experience.
• Welding proficiency or a welding certificate, supported by professional, personal, or volunteer experience.
• Experience operating tools and equipment 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 capability to work in confined or small spaces.
• Ability to work safely around large equipment such as railcars, locomotives, and cranes.

Responsibilities

• Inspect freight cars for defects, wear, and damage caused by derailments or collisions.
• Perform maintenance, including initial terminal air brake tests and pre-trip inspections.
• Repair rolling-stock structural components by fabricating, cutting, or rough-finishing metal and wood replacement parts, and assemble or fasten car parts by riveting, bolting, or welding.
• Remove and replace faulty components such as 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, non-power hand tools, power tools, electric and gas welding equipment, shop machines, and vehicles.
• Communicate technical information, recommended job procedures, 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 regulations, including 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 and Metropolitan Community College with little to no out-of-pocket cost.
• 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 and Employee Assistance Programs.

What This Job Offers

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