Assistant Conductor Trainee

Simple Staffing•Elburn, IL

6h•Onsite

About The Position

Metra’s Assistant Conductor program is a challenging and rewarding opportunity. All individuals who graduate from the Assistant Conductor program will be assigned to work on the CUS, RID or Metra Electric District; you will be assigned to the Guaranteed Extra Board (GEB) until you have enough seniority to "hold" one specific job. This means you must be available to work seven days per week, and willing to work in Northern and Northwestern Suburbs or OTC: Elburn, Elgin, Crystal Lake, Fox Lake, Waukegan, Antioch and Ogilvie Transportation Center. You may work 25 consecutive days in one month and still be subject to be called into to work for the remaining 5 or 6 days in that month. You will not have any regularly scheduled days off (including weekends and holidays). Your work hours will vary from day to day. This is not a 9-5 Monday through Friday job. The typical job at Metra is on duty for more than eight hours and up to twelve hours in many cases for any given day. Many jobs on the extra board are called yard assignments where you will be working outside for long periods of time. Employees must be able to work outside with exposure to all weather conditions (heat, rain, ice, snow, cold). All individuals in train service are subject to random drug testing as required by the Federal government. These are conducted during your duty hours when your name is selected by computer. All applicants must complete an intensive fourteen-week training session comprised of seven weeks of intensive classroom training followed by seven weeks of on-the-job training. During the on-the-job training, you will be assigned to various jobs on your assigned district to help you become familiar with the territory and job assignments. Applicants must pass exams and quizzes with 85% or better. A train service employee may work in three major areas: passenger service, flagging assignments or yard assignments. An Assistant Conductor on the extra board, you will work in all these areas. Passenger Service: The Assistant Conductor works in a unique environment that requires self-discipline and the ability to work without direct supervision. The ability to work well under stress is also important in handling the volume of passengers and cash fares collected during rush hours and special events. Your duties in train service also include train setup and inspection, fare collection, accurate handling of daily remittance, door operation and good customer service. Flagging: The primary responsibility of the flagman is to ensure that workers and equipment are not allowed to interfere in any manner with normal train operations except when specific provisions have been made. Yard Operations: The yard is a system of tracks within defined limits provided for the making up of trains, storing of cars and other purposes. The assistant conductor performs switching operations for on-time performance on-plan car routing, delivery and pickup. The following are descriptions of the various job functions that a train service employee must be able to perform. Train Operation and Movement: Assure safe, on time performance, take appropriate action when conditions threaten safety of crew or passengers. Must be able to communicate information using radios, telephones or the use of hand signals. Must receive, relay and act upon directives given to you by Transportation Officials, Train Dispatchers and customer service personnel and communicate with police and emergency response personnel. Switching Operations: Must be able to get on and off stationary and moving equipment, couple and uncouple air hoses, must ride on moving equipment by holding on to grab irons and standing on ladder steps in all types of weather, must be able to adjust and align knuckles for coupling. Must be able to read and align switches for train movement, must understand track numbers and locations, operate various track switches and derails to change routing of trains or cars and apply and release hand brakes. Conduct Train Inspections: Must inspect the condition of the train and equipment by doing radio tests, brake tests, door operation. Must make sure equipment has necessary inventory (flagging kit, fire extinguisher, first aid kits.). Must also inspect exterior of the train by walking the entire length of the train consist in inclement weather. Communicate and Report Information: Must be able to communicate information using radios, telephone or the use of hand signals. Must receive, relay and act upon directives given to you by Transportation Officials, Train Dispatchers and Customer Service personnel. Communicate with police and emergency response personnel. Cash Fare Collection: Responsible for collection and remittance of monies collected from passengers.

Requirements

High school degree or GED
Basic keyboarding skills.
Ability to submit work reports via an iPad.
Ability to read and understand all instructions including operating and safety rules, bulletins, special instructions, and federal regulatory documents.
Proficient verbal and written communication skills to deliver information to coworker(s) and supervisor(s).

Nice To Haves

Experience with Cash Handling and Customer Service
Experience working with, on, and around moving heavy equipment
Experience working outdoors in variable weather conditions (consider professional, personal, and volunteer experience)
Completed a railroad conductor training course or program
60 College Credit Hours or Two Years Military Experience

Responsibilities

Work on the CUS, RID or Metra Electric District and be assigned to the Guaranteed Extra Board (GEB).
Be available to work seven days per week.
Work in Northern and Northwestern Suburbs or OTC: Elburn, Elgin, Crystal Lake, Fox Lake, Waukegan, Antioch and Ogilvie Transportation Center.
Work up to 25 consecutive days in a month and be subject to be called into work for the remaining days.
Work varying hours from day to day, potentially more than eight and up to twelve hours per day.
Work outside for long periods, with exposure to all weather conditions.
Undergo random drug testing as required by the Federal government.
Complete an intensive fourteen-week training session (seven weeks classroom, seven weeks on-the-job).
Pass exams and quizzes with 85% or better.
Work in passenger service, flagging assignments, and yard assignments.
Perform train setup and inspection, fare collection, accurate handling of daily remittance, door operation, and customer service.
Ensure workers and equipment do not interfere with normal train operations.
Perform switching operations for on-time performance, car routing, delivery, and pickup.
Assure safe, on-time performance and take appropriate action when conditions threaten safety.
Communicate information using radios, telephones, or hand signals.
Receive, relay, and act upon directives from Transportation Officials, Train Dispatchers, and customer service personnel.
Communicate with police and emergency response personnel.
Get on and off stationary and moving equipment.
Couple and uncouple air hoses.
Ride on moving equipment by holding on to grab irons and standing on ladder steps in all types of weather.
Adjust and align knuckles for coupling.
Read and align switches for train movement.
Understand track numbers and locations.
Operate various track switches and derails to change routing of trains or cars.
Apply and release hand brakes.
Inspect the condition of the train and equipment (radio tests, brake tests, door operation).
Ensure equipment has necessary inventory (flagging kit, fire extinguisher, first aid kits).
Inspect the exterior of the train by walking the entire length of the train consist in inclement weather.
Responsible for collection and remittance of monies collected from passengers.