Freight Conductor - Montgomery, AL

CSX Transportation • Montgomery, AL

2h • Onsite

About The Position

The Freight Conductor safely coordinates train crews on freight trains, places rail cars for loading and unloading, and makes up or breaks down trains in rail yards, customer facilities, and similar locations. The role involves working with railroad operating procedures, safety rules, equipment, customers, and other transportation employees.

New hires attend four weeks of paid training at the Atlanta Training Center, followed by on-the-job training. CSX provides a hotel for the training period, a $20 daily meal allowance, and reimbursement of eligible mileage. Trainees must maintain an 85% passing rate on quizzes and tests. The position may involve a hiring pipeline depending on business needs. Employees must live within or be willing to relocate within 50 miles of the posted location; relocation assistance is not offered.

The role is governed by a collective bargaining agreement and requires membership. New hires primarily work on-call and may work nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, and varying shifts. Employees must be able to report within two hours of notification, may travel and remain away from their home terminal for 24 hours or longer, and may be required to advance to engineer based on seniority. The job requires working outdoors in varying weather and performing physically demanding tasks, including frequent lifting up to 80 pounds. A drug test, medical examination, background check, and required assessments must be passed.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• One year of related experience.
• High school diploma or GED from an accredited institution.
• Ability to read and comprehend operating rules, bulletins, regulatory documents, and other written communications.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills.
• Must pass a drug test, medical examination, background check, and all required assessments.
• Must be able to report to work within two hours of being notified.
• Must meet FRA color-vision and hearing requirements.
• Must be able to safely perform the physical requirements of the position.
• Must wear CSX-approved protective equipment, including a high-visibility vest, safety boots, hard hat, and hearing protection.
• Must comply with random drug and/or alcohol testing required by federal regulations.
• Must live within or be willing to relocate within 50 miles of the posted location; relocation assistance is not offered.
• Must be willing to work a nonstandard workweek, overtime, and various shifts, including on-call work, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• May be required to travel and be away from the home terminal for 24 hours or longer.
• Must be willing to cover outlying locations based on seniority and advance to engineer when required based on seniority.
• Must join the applicable collective bargaining agreement membership.

Nice To Haves

• One or more years of outside work experience, such as construction, heavy equipment operations, or farming; experience may be professional, personal, or volunteer.
• Experience working in a safety-sensitive environment.
• Valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate train crews and safely place rail cars for loading and unloading; make up and break down trains in rail yards, customer facilities, and similar locations.
• Comply with railroad and safety rules, FRA regulations, railroad signals, and train orders.
• Safely perform all job responsibilities and inspect equipment on cars before departures.
• Receive and transmit information by radio and telephone.
• Read and understand bulletins, work orders, and switch lists.
• Assist with coupling and uncoupling cars, operate switches, and make minor railcar repairs, including replacing heavy couplings or air brake hoses.
• Work with customers to ensure accurate movement and placement of cars and meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Maintain awareness of the surrounding area and suspicious activity to support rail safety.
• Operate locomotive equipment using a remote-control device.
• Comprehend color and/or hand signals and systems.
• Review instructions from yardmasters, dispatchers, and other transportation employees and discuss them with the locomotive engineer.
• Complete other activities and responsibilities as assigned by the manager.
• Complete annual training and pass safety rules examinations.

Benefits

• Retention bonuses after the first and second years of service, with minimum amounts of $3,000 after year one and $2,000 after year two; CSRA bonus amounts are deferred to a 401(k).
• Four weeks of paid training.
• Hotel room provided for the four-week training period.
• $20 per day meal allowance during training.
• Roundtrip mileage reimbursement at the IRS rate between the hiring location and Atlanta, and mileage reimbursement between the training center and hotel.
• Guaranteed extra-board pay after on-the-job training; the posting lists $2,430.52 bi-weekly for CSRA.
• Overtime opportunities may increase earnings.
• The posting refers applicants to a benefits lookup website for further benefits information.

What This Job Offers

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