Eastern Railroad Discussion > Dispatcher Qualifications

What kind of training dispatchers do receive prior to beginning work, and what certification, etc is required? Is there a unique union for train dispatchers?

Many of the dispatchers I've heard on the CSX - River Line in NJ/NY are highly professional and very communicative. I can almost visualize them moving chess pieces up and down the largely single track line, trying to create meets, move late trains, etc. From their Selkirk post, they're at ground zero for most of the lines they control.

Related question - with dispatching largely centralized in large bunkers, do dispatchers regularly ride the freight trains on the lines they run? I'm thinking of people in Jacksonville controlling Kentucky lines, or people in Omaha dispatching Idaho operations, etc. Knowing this siding is a bear, or there's a grade just north of that point could give them a perspective of what engineers face every day. The skills which help you run a busy flat land railroad might be of less value on a twisty coal branch with crossovers to the main, etc.

Thanks

I can't answer for the freight roads [haven't worked on one since the merger mania started], but NJT has it's own school for dispatchers.

Our dispatchers are hired from within the company after a careful selection process. They attend the school, lasting several months. The main subject is of course operating rules and special instructions.

They then are required to QUALIFY on the physical characteristics of each line they will dispatch. Often they spend 2-3 weeks on each line qualifying. After that, they receive on the job training with senior dispatchers.

Once working, they still must ride the head end over the lines at least once a year.

It's not an easy job, and any small mistake can take a dispatcher out of service for periods up to 30 days...or terminate them.

This process must work, because NJT dispatches 735 scheduled moves per day, usually without problems or delay.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe sponsors a Train Dispathcers Training Program through Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, Texas. New hire dispatchers without prior dispatching experience must complete this program. Following is a link for program information:

http://www.tccd.net/campus_nw/ads-fs.htm

All BNSF train dispatchers are members of the American Train Dispatchers Department of the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers. Most former Santa Fe dispatchers receive benefits and pay afforded exempt (officer) employees. Former BN dispatchers (and all train dispatchers hired by BNSF since the merger) are covered under a collective bargaining agreement, pay is currently $226 per day.

BNSF has dispatching offices in following cities:

Fort Worth, Texas
Spring, Texas (near Houston)
Kansas City, Kansas
San Bernardino, California
New Westminster, British Columbia

Qualification on BNSF is an informal process where new dispatchers receive on-the-job training and are evaluated by experienced dispatchers before working on their own. Unlike NJT and Guilford, there is no formal qualification on physical characteristics. Road trip policy is generally once per year, expenses paid by the company.

Additional information on BNSF train dispatching:

http://www.bnsf.com/jobs/html/frequently_asked_questions.html

http://www.bnsf.com/about_bnsf/html/dispatcher.html


Dave Bernstein

Thanks!

NS dispatchers attend classes in McDonough,GA at the NS Training Center. The program keeps changing; when I went, there were 3 sessions of 10 days, 2 weeks, and 2-3 weeks, with training between these sessions at the trainee's home office. The home training consisted of train rides, time spent with mechanical, m/w, and signal people at their job, and observation of dispatchers at work. The classes cover computer training and operating rules mostly, with some outdoor time looking at equipment and brake simulators. After all this, you are assigned to the desk you will qualify on to learn the territory and computer system (ie. on-the-job training). This lasts until you are judged ready to work on your own. Note that each office is slightly different, also former CR territories may train at their own offices rather than McDonough. I assume this will be changing.