BNSF Assessment Tests, Recruitment Process & Interviews Online Preparation – 2025
What Is BNSF?
BNSF was formed by the merger of the rail companies Topeka and Santa Fe, Atchison, and Burlington Northern. The largest freight railway network in North America, BNSF has over 52,300 kilometres of track and employs over 40,000 people. BNSF has tracks in 3 Canadian provinces, 28 states, and 3 transcontinental routes. BNSF operates 8, 000 locomotives, and is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.
A company the size and scope of BNSF requires employees to fill a number of different roles. There are positions available for those who are looking for administrative roles, finance, and technology, as well as a need for train crew, dispatchers, mechanics, electricians, and more. There is room at BNSF for people with many different skill sets.
BNSF offers competitive benefits to hourly and salaried employees. Specific plans will vary depending on your job classification, but all employees are offered:
- Medical benefits
- Retirement investment plans
- Adoption assistance
- College assistance for children of employees
- Tuition assistance
- Pregnancy and adoption support
What Is BNSF’s Hiring Process?
Get started on the BNSF website to find the right position. The careers openings are updated daily, so you can check back or be alerted if a position that matches your qualifications becomes available. You can apply for multiple positions, but you will need to fill out a separate application for each job.
Some positions, such as train operators and dispatchers require testing as part of the screening process. If you are required to take a pre-hire assessment test you will be notified by email. You will have a deadline by which you must complete the test. Some job-seekers may be required to answer a few pre-recorded questions.
If your test scores and basic screening are successful, you will be invited to interview at the BNSF hiring event. The hiring even includes a group informational session, followed by breakout sessions that are organized by department. Some jobs may have a final interview that is one on one. You will be kept informed of the exact interview process for your desired position by Human Resources.
BNSF Psychometric Tests
Not everyone will be required to take a pre-employment assessment. Conductor trainees, mechanics, and track labour positions are examples of positions that will require applicants to demonstrate proficiency in skills related to the job.
BNSF usually uses the Aon Hewitt G.A.T.E to assess the abilities of job-seekers. The G.A.T.E assessment is a timed multiple-choice test. It uses several factors to determine a candidate’s suitability for a role.
The test measures a prospective employee’s basic math skills, using word problems, as well as addition and subtraction, fractions, division, and multiplication.
Language and reading skills will be tested to ensure good communication skills. This will include reading passages and answering questions related to the content. These could involve problem-solving, recalling information, and using the information to draw conclusions.
A portion of the exam will be a personality assessment and work style questionnaire. This will look at a candidate’s motivations and drivers, as well as decision-making skills and situational judgment. This portion will use a scale that ranges from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree”.
If you have applied for a position in mechanics, you will also be given a mechanical aptitude test. This will measure understanding of basic physics and mechanical principles. These questions will involve the use of basic principles, using diagrams to solve a mechanical problem, and how to use basic tools such as levers and pulleys.
Other topics you may face in their assessments are:
How to Prepare for BNSF’s Aon GATE Assessments?
To do your best on the Aon GATE test take time to practise and familiarize yourself with the content the test may include. Flashcards are a good study tool for reacquainting yourself with basic math functions. You can also use apps designed to strengthen your math skills. Just reading the news can help you with your reading skills, but you can also use crosswords to help with your language ability and vocabulary.
If you know your desired position will require mechanical proficiency, study the basic principles. Physics concepts like force, gravity, and fluid dynamics, and mechanical concepts like gears, levers, and pulleys, are frequently covered on mechanical aptitude tests. Flashcards, textbooks, and online physics resources are tools that will help you achieve your best possible score.
Situational judgment and personality tests can be a little trickier to prepare for. Familiarize yourself with situations you may encounter on the job and think of the best way to handle them. Answer personality questions truthfully to paint an accurate picture of who you are as an employee.
