Apprentice Freight Car Repair - North Platte, NE

About the position
Join a leading North American railroad company in a comprehensive three-year training program to become a skilled Freight Car Repairer. Apprentices gain knowledge and hands-on experience inspecting, repairing, and rebuilding freight cars. The role includes inspections, scheduled and on-demand maintenance, and repairing or replacing defective components on rolling stock.
Respon
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sibilities
• Inspect freight cars to identify defects, wear, and damage caused by derailments or collisions.
• Perform maintenance tasks, including initial terminal air brake tests and pre-trip inspections.
• Repair rolling-stock structural components, including fabricating, cutting, and finishing metal or wood replacement parts; assemble or fasten parts by riveting, bolting, or welding.
• Remove and replace faulty components, including trucks, shoes, coupler assemblies, and air brake systems.
• Clean and prepare surfaces for painting, welding, and fabrication.
• Safely operate tools and equipment, including acetylene torches, hand and power tools, electric and gas welding equipment, shop machines, vehicles, and other tools.
• Communicate technical information, work procedures, recommendations, and other work-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 additional assigned duties as required.
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 assessment in English before proceeding to the interview stage.
• Successfully pass a Physical Ability Test (PAT), 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, with occasional bending, stooping, and kneeling.
• Able to climb occasionally to access cars and work vehicles.
• Able to perform tasks at heights of 18 feet or above.
Nice-to-haves
• Proficient in 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.
• Experience working outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Proficiency in welding 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.
Benefits
• Ongoing learning and development.
• Educational Assistance, including online and in-person courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha with 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.

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