I write train schedules and report on performance stats on a Light Rail System. It's very challenging, mathematically and requires a lot of clear thinking and organisation as well as the ability to visualise whole days of train movements in a metro system!
It's rewarding to know that the way I'm getting the trains in and out of the depot and how I push the maximum number of trains through the popular stations can make a big difference to the comfort of thousands of commuters every day. The industry is tough, and traditional - I find my colleagues are very old-fashioned in many of their attitudes.
I have worked in a number of roles within the transportation industry, and I can honestly say that I have exactly loved any of them. I have worked as a dispatcher, drayage coordinator, billing clerk, load planner, driver manager, and a customer service/technical support representative. All of these roles were in an intermodal capacity.
There is a lot of the "good old boy" mentality among management which makes it very difficult for anyone outside of that group to move up. I have seen people that have been with the company for over 10 years get passed over for promotions because managers prefer to bring in their friends from the outside instead.
I have made some great friends working in this industry, and that is honestly the only positive thing I can offer about it. The hours are terrible, depending on the role, you could be asked to work as many as 16 straight hours, though in the majority of my roles I worked 12 hours daily. The only days that we are closed are Christmas and New Year's.
The industry is expanding at a rapid pace, so job security should not be an issue, and the pay is average, though as I have said, expect long hours.
