Freight Conductor - Lima, OH

CSX Transportation • Lima, OH

4d • Onsite

About The Position

A Freight Conductor safely coordinates train crews on freight trains, places rail cars to facilitate loading and unloading, and makes up or breaks down trains in rail yards, customer facilities, and similar locations. The role requires compliance with railroad and safety rules, Federal Railroad Administration regulations, signals, and train orders. Conductors inspect rail-car equipment, communicate by radio and telephone, interpret work instructions and switch lists, help couple and uncouple cars, operate switches and remote-control locomotive equipment, and work with customers to ensure accurate car movements and placement.

New hires attend four weeks of paid training at the Atlanta Training Center. Training includes classroom and computer-based learning, hands-on simulations, and physical competencies; trainees must maintain an 85% passing rate on quizzes and tests. CSX provides a hotel room for the training period, a $20 daily meal allowance, and reimbursement for specified mileage. On-the-job training follows successful completion of the training-center program.

The position requires living within, or being willing to relocate within, 50 miles of the posted location. Relocation assistance is not offered. Work may involve on-call assignments, nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, nonstandard workweeks, and travel away from the home terminal for 24 hours or longer. New hires must be able to report within two hours of notification. The position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and membership is required. New hire conductors may receive retention bonuses after their first and second years of service, subject to the applicable agreement. The posting lists projected first-year earnings of $97,185 for NMAD, with potential for additional earnings through overtime.

Requirements

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have one year of related experience.
• Have a high school diploma or GED from an accredited institution.
• Be able to read and comprehend operating instructions, rules, bulletins, regulatory documents, and other written communications.
• Have proficient verbal and written communication skills.
• Work safely to prevent on-the-job accidents and injuries.
• Wear CSX-approved protective equipment, including a high-visibility vest, safety boots, hard hat, and hearing protection.
• Be able to report to work within two hours of notification.
• Pass required assessments, a drug test, medical exam, and background check; federal regulations also require random drug and/or alcohol testing.
• Meet FRA color-vision and hearing requirements.
• Be able to safely perform the listed physical duties, including frequent lifting up to 80 pounds.
• Accept work hours that may include a nonstandard workweek, overtime, and various shifts; new hires primarily work on-call, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Be willing to travel and be away from the home terminal for 24 hours or longer when required.
• Attend and successfully complete four weeks of paid training in Atlanta, maintaining at least an 85% average on quizzes and tests.
• Live within or be willing to relocate within 50 miles of the posted location; relocation assistance is not offered.
• 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; professional, personal, or volunteer experience may count.
• 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 rail cars, operate switches, and make minor rail-car 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.
• Remain aware 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.
• Advance to an engineer position when required, based on seniority.
• Cover outlying locations based on seniority.

Benefits

• Retention bonuses are available after the first and second years of service, subject to the applicable direct-hire agreement; the posting gives minimum amounts of $3,000 after year one and $2,000 after year two, and lists NMAD bonuses of $5,569.22 and $3,712.81, respectively.
• 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.
• Information about benefits is available through the linked benefits lookup.

What This Job Offers

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