If railroad jobs in Florida are what you’re looking for, then you’re at the right place.
This area on the east coast of the United States is renowned for its natural grandeur. Florida is home to Walt Disney World, fantastic beach resorts, and a sunny climate. It’s the place to be — especially for tourists.
Not only that. Florida also offers excellent opportunities. So, if you’re looking for railroad jobs in Florida, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty.
Securing a job with a Florida railroad company is a considerable achievement. But, let’s look into its economy first.
This way, you get an idea of what the state is like these days. Looking at the economic condition of a location is essential. This is especially true if you are relocating.
The Thriving and Resilient Florida Economy
The COVID-19 crisis caused tremors across the USA economic system. To put it in perspective, it quadrupled the monthly unemployment rate to almost 15%.
It also resulted in a GDP fall of more than 30 percent in the year’s first quarter. This number is the greatest in history.
The epidemic’s economic impact was felt in every part of the nation. The good news is that some states have fared better than the rest.
Several elements affect a state’s economic resilience and capacity to resist the pandemic. This includes industry diversification, workforce, education levels, family income, and overall GDP growth.
Tourism is a significant part of Florida’s economy. Unfortunately, this was a particularly hard-hit industry. The state’s GDP shrank by 2 percent from the second half of 2019 to the mid-2020s.
Amidst the roadblock, Florida’s economy developed at a yearly average of 2.2%. This figure is far higher than the equivalent nationwide annual average rate of 1.4%.
Many factors contribute to Florida’s robust economy. This includes its work-first laws, affordable taxes, and a regulatory regime.
With this standing, Florida has been in a good position to withstand the COVID-19 epidemic. This is also due to DeSantis leadership’s sensible decisions and proactive COVID-19 approaches.
The Railroad Sector in Florida
Economically speaking, Florida is one of the nation’s most potent states. There are more jobs, increased economic activity, and decreased unemployment.
With that, we can say that Florida is a thriving economy. It also possesses a fascinating railroad history.
Florida rejoined the United States during the Reconstruction era. However, several Floridians still felt isolated.
In Florida, there were very few streets and a lack of railways. Sadly, the state had liabilities from the American Civil War. Due to this, growth and building tracks were challenging.
One lucky day, some wealthy northeastern merchants recognized the potential in Florida. From there, they invested. Hamilton Disston purchased 4 million hectares of estate spanning Orlando through Lake Okeechobee.
Undoubtedly, this expenditure enabled Florida to get through debt. From here, Florida got back on its feet.
Henry B. Plant started developing railways in Florida a year later. Additionally, he linked Florida’s railroads to Georgia, allowing for interstate commerce and transit. In the vicinity of the railroads, he built several hotels.
Then there’s William Chipley. He developed railways that connected the Panhandle area of Florida to the state.
There was also Henry M. Flagler. He built railroads to connect Daytona Beach and Augustine.
There were over 3,000 miles of railways in Florida by 1900. Florida’s expansion was only getting started, despite its booming economy.
As you can see, railroads had great potential back in the day. Can you imagine what it’s like today? You can be a part of it.
Starting Your Railroad Journey in Florida
There is a good chance that you are here because you are seeking a job in the transit or service fields. The task may be both mentally and physically exhausting. This is especially true if you don’t have a lot of understanding of rail work.
Even more so for Class I railways, which need employees to complete 12-hour shifts regularly. Trains run around the clock. Because of this, your routine could encompass evenings and weekends. Sometimes, even holidays.
So, it does have its drawbacks in that matter.
Class Is naturally has the most significant salary in the industry. In addition, there are also pensions and other perks. So, if you are looking for good pay and understand the work — aim for Class Is.
Aim for regional or shortline if you are not keen on working long hours. These sectors usually have set schedules.
Nevertheless, railroads offer good advancement opportunities. For instance, conductors and yardmasters may be promoted from the ranks of railway line engineers. Some yardmasters become railway engineers after working in the industry for some time.
Moreover, you don’t even have to be a college graduate to start. You will open opportunities for yourself once you get your foot on the door. And as long as you work hard, of course.
So, now that we’ve got that covered let’s head onto your job hunt. Here are the various companies you can work at in Florida!
Class I Railroad Jobs in Florida
AMTRACK
This Class I railroad serves approximately 31 million individuals per year. AMTRACK aims to match qualified job seekers. The company offers employment opportunities that are a good fit for everyone.,
That’s why it doesn’t matter whether you’re starting the workforce or seeking a new path.
Over 20,000 diverse people comprise Amtrak America’s Railroad. In its 49-year history, Amtrak has helped people get their first jobs. They also built communities, sped up trade, and opened many doors for the country.
Are you interested in working with Amtrak? Click here to take a look at AMTRACK’s career opportunities.
CSX
Class I railway company CSX is one of the largest in the USA.
CSX Transportation has a network spanning 21,000 miles across 23 states. Additionally, they serve two Canadian provinces (Quebec and Ontario).
The enterprise contains more than 31,000 workers and offers train line transport operations. This includes conventional rail services and the transfer of bulk cargo and trailers.
Seem interested in a rewarding career with CSX? Learn about the different opportunities for you by clicking here.
Norfolk Southern Railway
Railroad Norfolk Southern Railway is one of the largest in North America. Twenty-two states The railroad’s 20,000 miles of track serve 22 states and cover the District of Columbia.
As a result, it reaches every significant cargo terminal in the East and links with other railroads. Thanks to its substantial intermodal network, Norfolk Southern is also an essential carrier of coals and industry items.
NSR has jobs from specialized management careers to co-op jobs. As a FORTUNE 500 business in steady growth, a wide range of job possibilities are available at NSR.
The screening procedure at Norfolk Southern is extensive and differs depending on the role. Learn how to apply to NSR by clicking here.
Regional and Shortline Railroad Jobs in Florida
If there’s no opening for a Class I job you want, don’t worry. There is a slew of regional and shortline jobs ready for you. Here are some of them:
Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway
This railway is owned and operated by Genesee and Wyoming. Over 350 miles of track are maintained by the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railways. At its southernmost point, this route travels from Mississippi to Alabama and ends in Florida. As a former St. Louis-San Francisco railroad branch, this route has a long and rich history.
Bay Line Railroad
The Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay Railway was the genesis of the Bay Line Railroad. During the early 20th century, it developed a mechanism to accomplish two goals. The first was to service a new port that had just opened. The second reason is to deal with the local wood trade.
It has a total length of 108 miles and transports close to 30,000 truckloads of cargo each year. This includes bricks, aggregate, cement, chemicals, coals, and food. Additionally, the trains carry scrap, steel, forestry items, and metallic ores.
First Coast Railroad
It all started in 2005 with this shortline. By way of Yulee, Florida — where it crosses paths with CSX — it ran from Fernandina Beach and Florida to seals. Genesee & Wyoming is also ais the company in charge of running the 32-mile route.
Georgia & Florida Railway
This shortline (but relatively large compared to others) runs more than 200 miles. It operates its track from Georgia all the way to Florida. Moreover, the company Omnitrax also possessed a small part of the property back in 2005. From there, it was named the Georgia & Florida Railway.
The Georgia & Florida Railway provides several job options. Being a significant and rapidly expanding transportation company in the United States, they encourage employees to help one another and work on meaningful initiatives that directly influence the country.
Click here if you’re interested in applying!
Railroad Jobs in Florida: Start On The Right Track!
The railroad business offers a wide range of job opportunities, from entry-level to managerial positions. Starting your job in Florida’s railroads is a great career stepping stone. The railway industry has a promising future. If you’re looking for work that’s both financially stable and personally fulfilling, consider the jobs above.
Just one disclaimer, though. We are only here to help you with your job hunt. So, contacting and applying directly to us won’t help. Instead, just click on the links we provided you above. They will lead you to the company’s website.
If you’re undecided on Florida, we have other suggestions too! You can check out our railroad jobs page to view different railroad jobs in each state.
Good luck with your job search!
