Jeffrey L. Thurman is National Vice President of the 51,500-member Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) a Division of the Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Thurman was elected Alternate Vice President No. 3 at the BLET’s Fifth National Convention in 2022 and elevated to the BLET Advisory Board on January 1, 2026.
Immediately prior to his elevation to the Advisory Board, Thurman served as General Chairman of the BNSF (former STL-SF) General Committee of Adjustment, which represents 1,150 active locomotive engineers. He began serving as General Chairman in June of 2013 and was reelected to the General Chairman’s office three times (2017, 2021 and 2025).
As General Chairman, Thurman worked jointly with this fellow BNSF General Chairmen to negotiate an improved quality of life agreement that provided locomotive engineers with paid sick leave. It was ratified in 2023. He also negotiated contracts for members at the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad, a part of the BNSF (former STL-SF) GCA, which were ratified in 2019 and 2024.
Thurman has served the National Division in various capacities throughout his career. He has served as a member of the Arrangements Committee during BLET National Conventions in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. He also serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the National General Chairmen’s Association
A member of BLET Division 172 in Fort Worth, Texas, Thurman’s railroad career began on February 11, 1994. He earned promotion to locomotive engineer on April 19, 1995. He has been a BLET member since 2003.