Freight roads' hiring push includes many military veterans, AAR says

By year's end, major U.S. freight railroads will have hired 45,000 people since 2012, including an estimated 9,900 men and women with military service, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

The skills, dedication and discipline possessed by military personnel make them a perfect fit for railroading, including jobs ranging from information technology to diesel mechanics and electricians to train conductors and engineers, AAR officials said in a press release timed to mark Veteran's Day.

Railroads are on track to exceed the projected industry hiring target of 12,000 this year, with more than 17,000 people now expected to be added to their workforces by 2014's end, they said.

"As America's economy continues to rebound, railroads are moving more, and adding capacity by hiring people and investing in infrastructure and equipment," said AAR President and Chief Executive Officer Ed Hamberger. "The demand for moving freight by rail will continue to grow, and railroads are looking for good people to help them serve customers and power the nation’s economy."

The rate at which freight railroads are hiring military veterans has enabled the industry to exceed its 2012 commitment under the White House Joining Forces Program to hire more than 5,000 veterans by 2013's end. At today’s pace, nearly one in four new hires have military service, AAR officials said.

"Railroads, like our military, are mission critical to the health and security of our nation," said Hamberger. "Companies devote tremendous resources to training employees in often high-tech positions, and offer highly competitive compensation packages."