Passenger Trains > Amtrak same day hiring events

Amtrak will have four same day hiring events on the west coast in July. On July 6 they will have a LSA/Chef/Food Specialist hiring event in Seattle followed by a mechanical hiring event the next day. On July 14 in Los Angeles they will hold both a mechanical event and a train attendant hiring event. See Amtrak careers for more info or if interested in attending.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/22 04:22 by lordsigma.

I wonder if same day hiring also requires same day medical/drug testing.  Those interested  got two weeks to get clean. 

Amazing how many people can't pass drug tests. 

Peter_Hawtrey Wrote:
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> I wonder if same day hiring also requires same day
> medical/drug testing.  Those interested  got two
> weeks to get clean. 

It does - if you receive an offer you are administered a hair test right there at the event. It's stated right in the postings.

And correct me if I'm wrong but train attendents cover the following jobs correct:
- Sleeping Car Attendent
- Coach Attendent
- Dining Car Server

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> Amazing how many people can't pass drug tests. 

Remember marijuana is legal in the western states. It’s not really amazing that people don’t pass a test that shows they’ve done something in the past few weeks. If they had a similar test for drinking alcohol think how many people would flunk. Perhaps the drug requirements are a bit ridiculous for people that are doing onboard service tasks. Yes don’t come to work drunk or high, but the fact you did a legal drug in the past few weeks should not disqualify you from the position. More federal government overreach at its finest.

Posted from iPhone

Peter_Hawtrey Wrote:
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> I wonder if same day hiring also requires same day
> medical/drug testing.  Those interested  got two
> weeks to get clean. 

how far back to hair tests go?

66



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/22 06:33 by goneon66.

alan2955 Wrote:
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> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Amazing how many people can't pass drug
> tests. 
>
> Remember marijuana is legal in the western states.
> It’s not really amazing that people don’t pass
> a test that shows they’ve done something in the
> past few weeks. If they had a similar test for
> drinking alcohol think how many people would
> flunk. Perhaps the drug requirements are a bit
> ridiculous for people that are doing onboard
> service tasks. Yes don’t come to work drunk or
> high, but the fact you did a legal drug in the
> past few weeks should not disqualify you from the
> position. More federal government overreach at its
> finest.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Yes, but this has been going on some time before legalization. 

 Yes, some drugs are legal in some states. But not legal for federal employment  or jobs that are overseen by the federal government.

 If you have to have a medical card or a commercial drivers license, all drugs are illegal. No matter what your state says.

alan2955 Wrote:
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> Remember marijuana is legal in the western states.

So, what does that have to do with federal laws and jobs that fall under federal laws and regulations?

> Perhaps the drug requirements are a bit
> ridiculous for people that are doing onboard
> service tasks.

Federal jobs are bound to federal laws and regulations.

> More federal government overreach at its
> finest.

Federal jobs are bound to federal laws and regulations. 

> More federal government overreach at its
> finest.

Federal government overreach: any Federal law or rule with which one disagrees.

Art House

aehouse Wrote:
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> Federal government overreach: any Federal law or
> rule with which one disagrees.

Exactly, I know when I take Amtrak I definitely want Ricky Gates at the throttle! Wild ride on a crazy train indeed...

JG

goneon66 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Peter_Hawtrey Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I wonder if same day hiring also requires same
> day
> > medical/drug testing.  Those interested  got
> two
> > weeks to get clean. 
>
> how far back to hair tests go?
>
> 66

Ive been told that hair tests can deliver results from up to 6 months in the past, but there is a way around them. Because the evidence of use is in the hair follicle, long haired people may present evidence of some drug use for many months.  But, short haired people may only present 30 days or less, if that's all the hair they have. Folks who wish to groom other parts of the body (brows, pits, and privates)may present little evidence

Testing for marijuana or amphetamines tends to be hit or miss. Even the best tools are only going to give a 50%-60% accurate result.

Is an Amtrak job considered a federal government job for this purpose?

Amtrak and any other "safety sensitive" railroad/DOT regulated job are federally required to do pre-employment and random drug screening. Like it or not, these outdated policies contribute to the hiring problem. Like Lackawana said, hair follicle tests can detect historic use for up to 6 months, and usually the minmum window before someone will test clean is 2-3 months. If your hair is too short, some places won't test you (and you won't get the job) because it's assumed you might be trying to cheat the test. Keep in mind, someone will fail the test if they ingested weed even once at any point in the past 3-6 months, and usually interested candidates only have days-weeks between applying and taking a test. A failed pre-employment can sometimes exclude a candidate from ever working in that industry.

Expecting your average Joe off the street to anticipate applying to a railroad job that far in advance and quit 3-6 months in advance is a non-starter. The only people who would even think about stopping smoking weed in anticipation a job that won't even be posted for several more months in an industry your average person is only marginally aware even exists are foamers. The FRA, in it's infinite wisdom, recently expanded this requirement to cover mechanical employees as well, so Amtrak's hiring woes have only got harder. Until there's new rules/ways to test the level of THC in someone's system at that moment like there is for alcohol (BAC test) instead of testing for historic use, railroads and other DOT regulated industries will continue to have to turn otherwise qualified candidates away (who may have not been regular users or been willing to quit for the job) for smoking weed at some point, possibly months before the job was even posted.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/22 14:17 by suvart.

One thing to consider is that even in states where it's "legal", marajuana use is not that widespread. Something on the order of only30% or so.
Seems to be a thing the "rebels" do.

And what's to say that someone who may smoke marijuana recreationally and legally under state law, squeaks by the first round of drug testing at Amtrak upon hiring, but then subsequently fails a "random" test as some follow-up policy in 6 months or 1 year etc. Are they out? And so to is Amtrak - an employee and ALL the training costs. I am not 100% sure that is a valid scenario, but just something to think about I suppose. I am not up on all these marijuana laws and testing etc. so I really can't comment, other than this is one screwed up rabbit hole that one can find themselves in as an employee and employer. When state and federal law differ like this, what a MESS! If people want to do this stuff recreationally and in some sort of controlled environment - fine. But very loose rules and regulations if you ask me. Seems to me we really do need some sort of measurement on the THC like the blood alcohol test??? Ugh! 

suvart Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Amtrak and any other "safety sensitive"
> railroad/DOT regulated job are federally required
> to do pre-employment and random drug screening.
> Like it or not, these outdated policies contribute
> to the hiring problem. Like Lackawana said, hair
> follicle tests can detect historic use for up to 6
> months, and usually the minmum window before
> someone will test clean is 2-3 months. If your
> hair is too short, some places won't test you (and
> you won't get the job) because it's assumed you
> might be trying to cheat the test. Keep in mind,
> someone will fail the test if they ingested weed
> even once at any point in the past 3-6 months, and
> usually interested candidates only have days-weeks
> between applying and taking a test. A failed
> pre-employment can sometimes exclude a candidate
> from ever working in that industry.
>
> Expecting your average Joe off the street to
> anticipate applying to a railroad job that far in
> advance and quit 3-6 months in advance is a
> non-starter. The only people who would even think
> about stopping smoking weed in anticipation a job
> that won't even be posted for several more months
> in an industry your average person is only
> marginally aware even exists are foamers. The FRA,
> in it's infinite wisdom, recently expanded this
> requirement to cover mechanical employees as well,
> so Amtrak's hiring woes have only got harder.
> Until there's new rules/ways to test the level of
> THC in someone's system at that moment like there
> is for alcohol (BAC test) instead of testing for
> historic use, railroads and other DOT regulated
> industries will continue to have to turn otherwise
> qualified candidates away (who may have not been
> regular users or been willing to quit for the job)
> for smoking weed at some point, possibly months
> before the job was even posted.

Out dated policy. There is a damn good reason this law is put in place for safety sensitive positions. Lets look at an example. You jump on a fun bus going to Vegas or the ball game. Do you rest easy knowing the driver might be a dope smoking drunk, of the guy working on the brakes? Ive had fellow employees give up the dope when the law kicked in. Others continued to drink and smoke till they got caught with a random. Its a good law and it protects the innocent. If you cant give up the dope you should never be given a safety sensitive job. 

suvart Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Expecting your average Joe off the street to
> anticipate applying to a railroad job that far in
> advance and quit 3-6 months in advance is a
> non-starter.

Good, because I do not want the average Joe off the street anywhere near any form of transportation of people or goods. 

People involved in transportation should be held to a higher standard. Yes, from the CEO on down. Executives, management, dispatch, operators, mechanics, so on and so forth. 

lordsigma Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And correct me if I'm wrong but train attendents
> cover the following jobs correct:
> - Sleeping Car Attendent
> - Coach Attendent
> - Dining Car Server

Coach Attendant, and MAYBE Sleeping car (TA, Steeper is technically a different classification)

Dining Car Server is an “SA”, and is distinctly a different craft.
SR
TA, TA/S, SA, and LSA Retired (you’re welcome to my spot!)

Posted from iPhone