Conductor/Engineer - Cherryvale, KS

Watco Companies • Cherryvale, KS

114d • $22

About The Position

The conductor/switchman position will control and coordinate the train movements while switching railcars whether in the yard of a railroad, industrial plant, or similar location to facilitate the unloading and loading of railcars in a safe and efficient manner to service our customers. This position is a manual labor position which requires that the individual become proficient in the following skills, duties, and requirements within a prescribed training and introductory period.

Requirements

• High school education or general education (GED) or 3 to 6 months job-related experience; or equivalent of education and experience.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate predictable, reliable, and timely attendance.
• Follow written and verbal directions to complete assigned tasks on schedule.
• Read, write, and communicate in English & understand basic math.
• Learn from directions, observations, and mistakes and apply procedures using good judgment.
• Reads switching orders from designated person.
• Supervises and coordinates the activities of train crews.
• Receives oral or written instructions from Manager or Customer indicating which cars are to be switched.
• Notifies engineer of switching orders and, whereby, which cars are to be moved to specified locations of yard, using radio, verbal or hand signals.
• Talks to crew or other yard workers via radio to give or receive switching information.
• Confers with train dispatcher via radio to issue or receive information or instructions concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
• Gives instructions to throw track switches and to couple and uncouple cars.
• May assist workers to throw switches or perform other activities involved when performing switching operations.
• Turns hand brake wheel or ratchet type brake as well to apply and release handbrakes.
• Observes track to detect obstructions.
• Maintains records, number, origin, destination, and cargo of cars switched.
• May coordinate activities of switching crew from locomotive cab, caboose, or control tower.
• Raises coupling lever to couple or uncouple cars.
• Throws track switches to facilitate shunting of cars and signals Engineer to move cars, using lantern, arm signals or radio.
• Connects air hose to cars when making up trains by bending and applying force.
• May set warning signals, such as flares, flags, or lanterns at front of and at rear of train during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.
• Sits or rides in cab of locomotive to observe signals from other crew members.
• May make minor repairs to couplings, and air hoses and report any equipment requiring major repairs.
• Talk to Dispatcher via radio to give or receive switching information.

Benefits

• Outstanding culture recognized by Forbes and Newsweek
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Paid on-the-job training with peer trainers
• Operations training at the Safe Performance Center in Birmingham, Alabama
• Leadership and development programs offered through Watco University
• Career advancement opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Rail Transportation
• Education Level: High school or GED