Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway | Track Laborer (WLE-0077)

Recruiting at Transtar LLC•Carnegie, PA

76d•$21 - $29•Onsite

About The Position

The Track Laborer is a full-time, union position in the Engineering Department of Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway. The role maintains, repairs, and installs railroad track and related infrastructure in accordance with company standards and Federal Railroad Administration regulations to support safe and efficient railroad operations. It involves physically demanding outdoor work in all weather conditions and requires a focus on safety, teamwork, operating-rule compliance, and maintaining track structure. Travel is required throughout the railroad system, and employees must be willing and able to work at any location in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, including driving long distances to job sites. This position is 40 hours per week and may require significant overtime, including nights, weekends, holidays, and scheduled rest days. Because the railroad operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, employees must be available to report for duty when notified. The starting rate is $21.04 per hour, with a range of $21.04 to $29.21 per hour depending on the position held, plus $100 per week in supplemental compensation. Employees are eligible for the profit-sharing program after 90 days of employment. The company is a drug-free workplace with a zero-tolerance policy. Employees are subject to pre-employment and frequent drug and alcohol testing. A DUI or OVI conviction within the last three years disqualifies candidates. All positions require pre-employment background verification, a physical examination, and drug/alcohol screening.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Ability to perform strenuous physical labor.
Ability to secure an appropriate Commercial Driver’s License within 120 days of hire.
Ability to comply with union requirements and the collective bargaining agreement.
Ability to work irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and to report for duty when notified.
Commitment to workplace safety and compliance with operating rules.
Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions for extended periods.
Ability to walk long distances on uneven and irregular surfaces; frequently stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, and climb; and lift and carry objects weighing 50 to 100 pounds.
Willingness and ability to work at any location on the railroad in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, and to drive long distances to job sites.
Pass required pre-employment background verification, physical examination, and drug/alcohol screening; comply with frequent drug and alcohol testing.
A DUI or OVI conviction within the last three years disqualifies candidates.

Responsibilities

Repair and rebuild railroad track using power and hand tools.
Remove and replace railroad ties; pull and drive spikes; shovel and replace ballast.
Load and unload equipment and materials as assigned.
Inspect track, trackbed, and right-of-way for defects, including broken rails, defective switches, obstructions, and weather-related issues.
Perform track maintenance, including installing or removing rail anchors, aligning tie plates, cutting rails, plugging spike holes, and operating track jacks.
Handle and move track materials and equipment weighing between 50 and 100 pounds, with or without assistance as required.
Operate assigned tools and machinery, such as air hammers, powered wrenches, rail drills, and portable saws.
Remove, replace, and tamp ballast, and assist in unloading ballast.
Follow company and industry safety rules and wear required personal protective equipment.
Monitor visual signals and warning sounds and take appropriate action to protect oneself and coworkers.
Travel to job sites throughout the railroad system as required.