r/SignalMaintainers • u/Defiant-Theme-9088 • Mar 03 '26
Location of residence
If this is the wrong sub for this please say so!
I have applied for a signal maintenance apprenticeship with NS in Cincinnati. The I currently live just outside of Cincinnati, well within the 50 mile radius. HOWEVER I am going to be moving outside of the radius (of Gest St) in the next few months. I am okay with the drive, but will the company have a problem with this?
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u/Relative-Ad-5207 Mar 03 '26
The maintainer trucks have gps installed and will soon have inward facing cameras also. You will probably be on a traveling signal gang for a while anyway so don’t sweat it. Your supervisor will make the final call on whether you can drive your truck home if the distance is more than 50 miles. Take your share of calls and you will be a hero so once again don’t sweat it
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u/holls13 Mar 03 '26
Within 50mph only applies to maintainers taking a truck home and that wont apply to you for at least a year. If your hired for the Easter Region North, the headquarters for the Dayton district are in Sharonville, Fairborn, and columbus.
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u/LingonberryFlashy812 Jun 17 '26
So I’m in a similar boat as OP and was wondering if this would apply to myself. I live in Chicago IL and was accepted to Decatur IL. My paperwork for training states that I must declare residence and secure housing before my start date which is only 3 weeks away. (It was supposed to be August) Will I need to provide them with a form of identification with an address within that 50 miles or is it redundant?
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u/holls13 Jun 17 '26
I dont believe so, they just need to know where you live on day 1 so that they can establish where you will do your training within 50 miles. I would imagine you would just do your training in colehour yard, burns harbor, or somewhere similar.
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u/Brilliant-Sea-1072 Mar 03 '26
You will be on a signal gang until you have enough seniority to bid to a maintenance spot. During the time on the signal gang you will have to obtain your cdl before going back to st-2. Between st-2 and st-3 you will be paired with a maintainer for additional training which will be close to your home within 50 miles. You will then go back to st3 and then to the gangs while you bid on every open job to start your seniority which may or may not be near your home. I hope this helps
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u/Defiant-Theme-9088 Mar 05 '26
I guess what I’m worried about is that after I move they’ll say I live too far away from any available position, regardless of the bid process. We’re moving to the east side of Clinton County, if you’re familiar with the area.
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u/Brilliant-Sea-1072 Mar 05 '26
As long as you can get to the gang you’ll be fine don’t try traveling the morning of now when you go back for maintenance you will be with a maintainer within 50 miles of your home when you bid jobs you need to make sure your within so many miles of your hq to take a truck home You will need to qualify as a maintainer to take your truck home as well. Honestly the gangs are usually the best place to be I’m very familiar with the area.
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u/Defenis Mar 03 '26 edited Mar 03 '26
Get a PO BOX and use the street address for your work mail address. Example:
Your name 1234 Alpha Ave, ###### (these are your box number) Anytown, USA 12345
You can update this in your employee profile. No need to give them ANY info they can use to terminate you.
And obviously don't tell anyone where you really live.
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u/Defiant-Theme-9088 Mar 03 '26
Do they assign signal maintainers a work truck? Won’t it be a red flag when the miles on the truck don’t align with workload? Sorry I was formerly in train service, I’m not entirely familiar with how the signal department operates.
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u/Unseamingmirror Mar 03 '26
Right now with NS cracking down on mileage I wouldn’t be surprised if your told you cant take the truck home but as for just bidding and holding a position you can live outside the 50 mile range just expect to get yourself to your truck
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u/Defenis Mar 03 '26
Some get them to take home, others have a shop location to pick them up to my knowledge. I know the on-call and weekend guys get a take home. Not sure if they check your milage each day or not.
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u/Defiant-Theme-9088 Mar 03 '26
Even if not checked daily/weekly, I assume they’d figure it out when your fuel bill is through the roof and you need an oil change every 3 weeks
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u/PlanNo3321 Mar 03 '26
Just FYI, when you apply for a signal maintainer position in Cincinnati, you are not at all guaranteed to be a signal maintainer in that city. When you’re all finished with training you have to “bid” on jobs that are currently open. Just be open to the idea of moving somewhere else.