Job Description

Start a Watco Career and Discover the Difference

Keep the world’s supply chain moving.

That’s what the Watco team does every day at our short line railroads, switching sites, terminals, ports, and logistics hubs. 

Whether you’re at one of these locations or in a support-services role, there’s one thread that ties everyone together.

We’re all on the same team.  One Watco .

Here’s what you can expect from Watco: 

• Outsanding culture recognized by Forbes and Newsweek
• Competitive compensation and  benefits
• Paid on-the-job training with peer trainers 
• Operations training at the  Safe Performance Center in Birmingham, Alabama
• Leadership and development programs offered through Watco University 
• Career advancement opportunities

Starting pay: $22.00/hr 

Position Description:

The conductor/engineer position will be to control and coordinate the train movements while switching railcars whether in the yard of a railroad, industrial plant, or similar location to facilitate the unloading and loading of railcars in a safe and efficient manner to service our customers. This position is a manual labor position which requires that the individual become proficient in the following skills, duties, and requirements within a prescribed training and introductory period.

Day in the Life – Watco Conductor -

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Demonstrate predictable, reliable, and timely attendance. 
• Follow written and verbal directions to complete assigned tasks on schedule. 
• Read, write, and communicate in English & understand basic math. 
• Learn from directions, observations, and mistakes and apply procedures using good judgment. 
• Reads switching orders from designated person. 
• Supervises and coordinates the activities of train crews.
• Receives oral or written instructions from Manager or Customer indicating which cars are to be switched.
• Notifies engineer of switching orders and, whereby, which cars are to be moved to specified locations of yard, using radio, telephone, verbal or hand signals.
• Talks to crew or other yard workers via radio to give or receive switching information.
• Confers with train dispatcher via radio to issue or receive information or instructions concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
• Gives instructions to throw track switches and to couple and uncouple cars.
• May assist workers to throw switches or perform other activities involved when performing switching operations.
• Turns hand brake wheel or ratchet type brake as well as apply and release handbrakes.
• Observes track to detect obstructions. 
• Maintains records, number, origin, destination, and cargo of cars switched.
• May coordinate activities of switching crew from locomotive cab, caboose, or control tower.
• Raises coupling lever to couple or uncouple cars.
• Throws track switches to facilitate shunting of cars and signals Engineer to move cars, using lantern, arm signals or radio.
• Connects air hose to cars when making up trains by bending and applying force.
• May set warning signals, such as flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes at front of and at rear of train during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.
• Sits or rides in cab of locomotive to observe signals from other crew members.
• May make minor repairs to couplings, and air hoses and report any equipment requiring major repairs.
• May talk to Engineer via radio to give or receive switching information.
• Performs other duties as requested or required

Machines, Tools, Special Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment Used:

• Hammers, ratchets, chisel, pry bar, wrenches, and brushes. 
• PPE; hard hat, vest, safety glasses, FR clothing, gloves, steel toed boots 

Education and Experience:   

• High school education or general education development (GED).
• Ability to pass training and required testing.

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The team member is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions and elements, noise, and fumes from gas, oil, and grease. 

Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by team members assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified

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