Mobile, AL Train Conductor

Norfolk Southern Corp. • Mobile, AL

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Norfolk Southern Train Conductors are responsible for the safe and efficient movement of freight trains. Work includes building trains by coupling railcars, delivering railcars to customers, transporting trains over long distances, and managing electronic documentation and inspections. Conductors are trained to troubleshoot train issues, report incidents, and follow safety procedures; no prior railroad experience is required.

This is a seniority-based position. Employees begin on the extra board, filling in where needed, until they have enough seniority to bid on a regular assignment. The role requires availability for on-call work 24/7, sometimes with as little as 90 minutes’ notice, and typically involves spending two to three days away from home each week. Employees must join a union within 60 days after completing training.

Training lasts about 20 weeks, and may take 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 Norfolk Southern’s 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 is completed 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 position involves outdoor work in all weather, irregular schedules that may include nights, weekends, and holidays, and constant alertness around heavy, moving, potentially hazardous locomotive engines. It is a safety-sensitive role.

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 describes a $5,000 retention bonus effective July 1, 2026, paid in installments tied to training completion and subsequent service milestones. Employee medical insurance and coverage for eligible dependents begin in the second calendar month of employment. Dental insurance, life insurance, and 401(k) eligibility begin after one year. The position is covered by Railroad Retirement benefits and taxes. Vacation eligibility increases with service: two weeks after two years, three weeks after six years, four weeks after fifteen years, and five weeks after twenty-three years.

Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Hold a valid driver's license and have reliable transportation.
• Be able to report to work within 90 minutes.
• Have a clean driving record for the past 36 months, without a license suspension, revocation, cancellation, or denial resulting from a drug- or alcohol-related incident.
• Not have been involved in diversion or probation, or pleaded guilty to a drug- or alcohol-related driving incident.
• Not have refused a drug or alcohol test related to operating a motor vehicle.
• Pass pre-employment Federal Railroad Administration drug and alcohol screening.
• Be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Lift and carry up to 85 pounds.
• Pass applicable physical standards, including the hang test: hang from a railcar ladder with three points of contact (two feet and one hand) for 1 minute 15 seconds per side.
• Be able to walk up to several miles per shift on uneven terrain.
• Meet Federal Railroad Administration medical requirements for visual acuity, color vision, and hearing.
• Maintain visual acuity of at least 20/40 in each eye separately and both eyes together, with or without corrective lenses.
• Pass specified Federal Railroad Administration color vision tests; lenses used to improve color vision are not permitted.
• Have no hearing loss greater than a 40 dB average at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 Hz in the better ear; this requirement may be met with a hearing aid.
• Be available for on-call work 24/7, with as little as 90 minutes’ notice, and for irregular schedules that may include nights, weekends, holidays, and 12-hour or longer shifts.
• Join a union within 60 days after completing training.

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 to ensure safe operation.
• Operate remote-control locomotives.
• 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 taxes.
• $5,000 retention bonus effective July 1, 2026: $1,000 upon completion of on-the-job training, $1,500 six months after training completion, and $2,500 twelve months after training completion.
• Company-provided hotel accommodations, weekly meal stipends, and travel reimbursement from the hire location for the first five weeks of training.
• Vacation eligibility increases with years of service: two weeks after two years, three weeks after six years, four weeks after fifteen years, and five weeks after twenty-three years.

What This Job Offers

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