If you live for money... - Freight Conductor CN Employee Review

2.0
31 Aug 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

If you have enough seniority to not face layoffs, you can make six figures in your first year of employment if you're stationed at a road terminal. Profit sharing with company matching a portion of your investment allows for even greater earning potential, especially when business (and share prices) are booming. Full benefits from day one.

Cons

Although you can make a lot of money from day one, keep in mind that there is a reason that you can make so much with little to no education or experience. Your entire life will revolve around this job. Always waiting for the phone to ring, and it often ringing at unexpected times due to very poor and inconsistent scheduling of trains. When you go to work, you are never sure when you will be home: maybe the same day, maybe 3 days later, you never really know what management will throw at you. Although it seems like it would be a job to help keep you active and in shape, the vast majority of the time is spent sitting down, often without the train moving for hours at a time. Although some employees do their best to keep a positive attitude, the general environment was filled with negativity due mostly to the fact that the relationship between management and workers is consistently toxic (always has been, and always will be unless major changes take place).

Explore other reviews about CN

5.0
2 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Its what you make of it. Good union job with good benefits

Cons

You're always waiting on trains.

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CN Response
2mo
Thank you for your feedback and for your hard work. We pride ourselves on providing our team members with great benefits. We thank you for moving our business and the economy forward. Please share your thoughts with your manager and on your regular Interaction surveys.
4.0
13 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Pays decently well for first job out of college. My manager and team are very reasonable with expectations placed on new hires. Working after office hours (past 4:30pm) is extremely rare and only expected in emergencies.

Cons

Very slow and/or limited job growth potential. Promotions into middle management are almost purely based on reputation with middle managers who are largely people with previous field experience. This is very disadvantageous to direct-from-college hires like myself and even my current manager.

avatar
CN Response
2mo
Thank you for your feedback and for your hard work. We pride ourselves on providing our team members with great pay. With a 24/7/365 operation CN could not function without its dedicated employees. We thank you for moving our business and the economy forward. Remember to leverage your development plan to have career discussions with your leader and please share your thoughts on your regular Interaction surveys.
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