Kansas City, MO Train Conductor

Norfolk Southern Corp. • Kansas City, MO

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Norfolk Southern Train Conductors are responsible for the safe and efficient movement of freight trains. Duties include 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 comply with safety procedures; no prior railroad experience is required.

This is a seniority-based position. New employees 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, sometimes with as little as 90 minutes’ notice, and should expect to spend two to three days away from home weekly. Employees are required to join a union within 60 days after completing training.

On-the-job training lasts about 20 weeks and may take longer depending on the complexity of the assigned location. Training includes classroom instruction, field training, and on-the-job experience. The first five weeks take place at Norfolk Southern’s Training Center in McDonough, Georgia, with hotel accommodations, weekly meal stipends, and travel reimbursement from the hire location provided by the company. The 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 work is outdoors in all weather and involves irregular schedules, including on-call work, nights, weekends, and holidays. It is a safety-sensitive role requiring constant alertness around heavy, moving, potentially hazardous locomotive engines. Conductors must meet physical and FRA medical standards, including lifting and carrying up to 85 pounds, passing a hang test, walking several miles on uneven terrain, and meeting specified vision and hearing requirements.

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; experienced conductors average $84,000. A $5,000 retention bonus is offered effective July 1, 2026, in installments tied to completion of training and subsequent service milestones. 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. Vacation eligibility increases with years of service, from two weeks after two years to five weeks after 23 years.

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 suspension, revocation, cancellation, or denial of a 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 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 on call 24/7, potentially with as little as 90 minutes’ notice, and be prepared for irregular schedules, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Must join a union within 60 days after completing training.
• Must successfully pass classroom, field, and on-the-job training requirements, including written exams and field evaluations.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 85 pounds.
• Must pass the physical standards, including the hang test: hanging from a railcar ladder with three points of contact for 1 minute and 15 seconds per side.
• Ability to walk up to 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.
• Must pass FRA color-vision tests; lenses used to improve color vision are not permitted.
• Must meet the hearing standard of no more than 40 dB average loss at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz in the better ear; a hearing aid may be used.

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-plus shifts.

Responsibilities

• Build and inspect trains, railcars, and equipment to ensure 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 FRA and company safety regulations.
• Troubleshoot train issues and report incidents.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• $5,000 retention bonus, effective July 1, 2026, paid as $1,000 upon completion of on-the-job training, $1,500 six months after training completion, and $2,500 twelve months after training completion.
• 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.
• Vacation eligibility based on years of service: two weeks after two years, three weeks after six years, four weeks after 15 years, and five weeks after 23 years.
• On-the-job training accommodations, weekly meal stipends, and travel reimbursement for the first five weeks at the training center.

What This Job Offers

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