Job Description

General Summary

The Conductor is responsible for coordinating the activities of train crew on freight trains and is responsible for the safe switching of railcars and movements across the network.

General Duties

• Receives and relays information and acts upon oral and written from dispatcher, customer service, and others specifying the switch activity, placement or delivery of railroad cars and/or train
• Reads and understands the book of rules, timetables, bulletins, train orders, waybills, placards, safety instructions and other written or printed material
• Prepares required daily reports; switch lists – manually or with a computer; fills out forms including train orders
• Ensure compliance with all train orders, signals, and railroad rules and regulations for safety, operations, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
• Conducts the movement or rail cars and train movements
• Climb on and off equipment, set or release hand brakes, operate switches, couple and uncouple air hoses between rail cars, remove and replace broken knuckles (80lb railcar connector), ride moving cars by hanging on grab irons for long periods of time, or ladders
• Observe, interpret and relay hand, lantern, and other signals affecting the movement of the train, judge and control the speed and clearance distance of cars and distinguish among colors and see at night
• Properly operate track switches and derails to change routing of engines or cars within yards or on the road
• Ability to make decisions about switching, placement of cars and building of trains
• Monitor track conditions (e.g. broken rails, defective switches, weather-related problems)
• Maintain awareness of surrounding area and suspicious activity to ensure rail safety
• Inspect cars in conformance with Federal Railroad Administration Regulations. Observe the condition of passing trains
• Assist with other projects and perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• 18 years of age or older
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Certified Conductor
• No driving violations involving alcohol or drugs within the past 3 years

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must be able to read and comprehend written safety rules, procedure and safety manuals, government regulations, operating and maintenance instructions, memos and other work-related information
• Must be able to work varying shift schedules, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including nights, holidays and weekends
• Must be able to pass training and required testing

Behavioral Expectations

• Comply with train orders, train signals, radio communications and railroad rules and regulations to conduct the locomotive in an efficient and safe manner
• Must be able to report to work safely with two-hour notice
• Comply with company and federal safety rules, policies and procedures to include wearing required safety equipment, responding to safety concerns and taking appropriate action
• Must be able to solve problems quickly and react to changing conditions on the job
• Advance to engineer position when required

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, crawl, balance, climb and work in confined areas
• Must meet all physical requirements as described in the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Regulations, including auditory and vision
• Must be able to handle medium to heavy work; ability to lift a minimum of 50 to 80 pounds to waist height
• Able to use hands to perform activities involving holding, grasping, turning and pulling.
• Able to perform work on uneven surfaces; frequently climb ladders and on/off equipment; work on top of locomotives and other equipment
• Able to work in conditions that include loud noise and fumes, work on and around heavy and moving machinery, bend, lift, walk, stand and sit for extended periods of time and use hand tools
• Walk long distances over uneven terrain
• Must have strong vision and hearing, including the ability to: see and read hand signals from near and far; distinguish between colors; visually judge the speed and distance of moving objects; see at night; and recognize changes in sounds.

Work Environment

• Extreme all-weather conditions; uneven surfaces; safety sensitive work environment
• Able to complete strenuous work outdoors in all weather conditions (hot, cold, rain, snow, and sleet)
• Able to work in conditions that include loud noise and fumes

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