Chattanooga, TN Train Conductor

Norfolk Southern Corp. • Chattanooga, TN

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Norfolk Southern is hiring a Train Conductor in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Conductors are responsible for the safe and efficient movement of freight trains, including building trains by coupling railcars, delivering railcars to customers, transporting trains over long distances, and managing electronic documentation and inspections. The role also involves troubleshooting train issues, reporting incidents, and following safety procedures. No prior railroad experience is required; training is provided.

This is a seniority-based position. New conductors begin on the extra board, filling in where needed until they have enough seniority to bid on a regular assignment. Employees must be available on call 24/7, including with as little as 90 minutes’ notice, and should expect to spend two to three days away from home each week. Employees must join a union within 60 days after completing training.

Training lasts approximately 20 weeks and may extend longer depending on the complexity of the assigned location. It includes classroom instruction, field training, and on-the-job experience. The first five weeks are at the Norfolk Southern Training Center in McDonough, Georgia; the company provides hotel accommodations, weekly meal stipends, and travel reimbursement from the hire location during this period. Remaining training takes place at the assigned location. Successful completion requires passing classroom, field, and on-the-job requirements, including written exams and field evaluations on physical characteristics, operating rules, safety, hazardous materials, and signal rules.

The role is performed outdoors in all weather and involves irregular schedules, including on-call work, nights, weekends, and holidays. It is safety-sensitive and requires constant alertness around heavy, moving, potentially hazardous locomotive engines. Physical requirements include lifting and carrying up to 85 pounds, hanging from a railcar ladder with three points of contact for 1 minute and 15 seconds per side, and walking several miles per shift on uneven terrain. FRA medical requirements include specified visual acuity, color vision, and hearing standards.

Conductor trainees earn a minimum of $240 per shift during on-the-job training, with overtime at $30 per hour. First-year conductors average $70,000 annually, and experienced conductors average $84,000. The posting also lists locomotive engineer compensation as a guaranteed minimum of $94,000, with potential to exceed $100,000. Medical insurance for employees and eligible dependents begins in the second calendar month of employment. After one year, employees become eligible for dental insurance, life insurance, and a 401(k). Employees are covered under Railroad Retirement benefits and taxes. The posting lists retention-bonus details and vacation eligibility based on years of service.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must hold a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation.
• Must be able to report to work within 90 minutes.
• Must have a clean driving record for the past 36 months, without a suspension, revocation, cancellation, or denial of the driver’s license resulting from a drug- or alcohol-related incident.
• Must not have been involved in diversion or probation or pleaded guilty to a drug- or alcohol-related driving incident.
• Must not have refused to undergo a drug or alcohol test related to operating a motor vehicle.
• Must pass pre-employment Federal Railroad Administration drug and alcohol screening.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Must be available for on-call work 24/7, potentially with 90 minutes’ notice, and expect to spend two to three days away from home weekly.
• Must join a union within 60 days after completing training.
• Must pass all classroom, field, and on-the-job training requirements, including written exams and field evaluations.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 85 pounds, hang from a railcar ladder with three points of contact for 1 minute and 15 seconds per side, and walk several miles per shift on uneven terrain.
• Must meet FRA medical requirements, including visual acuity of at least 20/40 in each eye separately and both together with or without corrective lenses, required color vision testing, and hearing standards of no more than 40 dB average hearing loss at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz in the better ear (which may be met with a hearing aid).

Nice To Haves

• Experience working outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Experience with heavy equipment or in physically demanding roles.
• Experience working non-traditional shifts, on call, and/or 12-hour-or-longer shifts.

Responsibilities

• Build and inspect trains, railcars, and equipment for safe operation.
• Operate remote control locomotives and perform tasks such as coupling, aligning drawbars, applying hand brakes, and riding railcars.
• Communicate effectively with crews, dispatchers, and yard controllers.
• Maintain accurate documentation and comply with Federal Railroad Administration and company safety regulations.
• Troubleshoot train issues and report incidents.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical insurance for employees and eligible dependents beginning in the second calendar month of employment.
• Dental insurance eligibility after one year.
• Life insurance eligibility after one year.
• 401(k) eligibility after one year.
• Railroad Retirement benefits and coverage of associated taxes.
• Hotel accommodations, weekly meal stipends, and travel reimbursement during the first five weeks of training.
• Retention bonus: one posting section states $5,000 effective July 1, 2026, paid in installments after training and at six and 12 months; another section lists a $10,000 bonus with an unspecified effective date, paid in installments after training and at six, 12, and 18 months.
• Vacation eligibility: two weeks after two or more years of service, three weeks after six or more years, four weeks after 15 or more years, and five weeks after 23 years.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed