Freight Conductor - Connellsville, PA

CSX Transportation • Connellsville, PA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

A 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 locomotive equipment, communicating by radio and telephone, following railroad and safety rules, and ensuring accurate movement and placement of rail cars. The position is based in the Connellsville, Pennsylvania area; employees must live within or be willing to relocate within 50 miles. Relocation assistance is not offered.

New hires attend four weeks of paid training at the Atlanta Training Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Training includes classroom and computer-based learning, hands-on simulations, and physical competencies. Trainees must maintain an 85% passing average on quizzes and tests or their offer will be rescinded. CSX provides a hotel room for the training period, a $20 daily meal allowance, and reimbursement for eligible roundtrip mileage. On-the-job training begins after successful completion of the training center program.

The posting lists projected first-year earnings of $97,185 for NMAD weekly locations, with training, on-the-job training, and guaranteed extra-board weekly rates specified. Earnings may be higher with overtime opportunities. New hires may receive retention bonuses after their first and second years of service, subject to the applicable agreement. Work hours may include nonstandard schedules, overtime, and varied shifts; new hires primarily work on call, nights, weekends, and holidays. Employees may need to report within two hours of notification, travel away from their home terminal for 24 hours or longer, cover outlying locations based on seniority, and advance to engineer when required based on seniority.

Hiring is contingent on passing a drug test, medical examination, and background check. The position is governed by a collective bargaining agreement, and membership is required. The work is performed outdoors in varying weather and includes substantial physical activity, including frequent lifting up to 80 pounds. Information about benefits is provided through the company's benefits lookup resource; specific benefits are not listed in the posting.

Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have one year of related experience.
• Have a high school diploma or GED from an accredited institution.
• Be able to read and comprehend instructions, including operating rules, bulletins, regulatory documents, and other written communications.
• Have proficient verbal and written communication skills.
• Pass a drug test, medical examination, and background check.
• Pass all required assessments and maintain an 85% passing average during training.
• Safely report to work within two hours of being notified.
• Meet FRA color-vision and hearing requirements.
• Wear CSX-approved protective equipment, including a high-visibility vest, safety boots, hard hat, and hearing protection.
• Comply with random drug and/or alcohol testing required by federal regulations.
• Be available for nonstandard workweeks, overtime, varied shifts, and primarily on-call, night, weekend, and holiday work as a new hire.
• Be able to travel and be away from the home terminal for 24 hours or longer when required.
• Live within or be willing to relocate within 50 miles of the posted location; relocation assistance is not offered.
• Accept collective bargaining agreement coverage and required membership.
• Advance to an engineer position when required based on seniority and cover outlying locations based on seniority.

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

• Ensure compliance with railroad and safety rules, FRA regulations, railroad signals, and train orders.
• Safely perform all job responsibilities.
• Inspect equipment on rail 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 rail cars and provide customer service that identifies and meets or exceeds customer needs.
• Maintain awareness of the surrounding area and suspicious activity to support rail safety.
• Operate locomotive equipment using a remote control device.
• Comprehend color and hand signals and related 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 may be paid after the first and second years of service, subject to the applicable agreement; amounts depend on work location.
• Four weeks of paid training.
• Hotel room provided during the four-week Atlanta training period.
• $20 per day meal allowance during training.
• Reimbursement of roundtrip mileage between the hiring location and Atlanta at the IRS rate, and mileage between the training center and hotel.
• Potential overtime earnings.

What This Job Offers

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