Conductor

General Summary:

The Conductor is responsible for coordinating the activities of train crew on freight trains and is responsible for the safe switching of railcars and movements across the network.

General Duties:

• Receives and relays information and acts upon oral and written from dispatcher, customer service, and others specifying the switch activity, placement or delivery of railroad cars and/or train

• Reads and understands the book of rules, timetables, bulletins, train orders, waybills, placards, safety instructions and other written or printed material

• Prepares required daily reports; switch lists – manually or with a computer; fills out forms including train orders

• Ensure compliance with all train orders, signals, and railroad rules and regulations for safety, operations, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

• Conducts the movement or rail cars and train movements

• Climb on and off equipment, set or release hand brakes, operate switches, couple and uncouple air hoses between rail cars, remove and replace broken knuckles (80lb railcar connector), ride moving cars by hanging on grab irons for long periods of time, or ladders

• Observe, interpret and relay hand, lantern, and other signals affecting the movement of the train, judge and control the speed and clearance distance of cars and distinguish among colors and see at night

• Properly operate track switches and derails to change routing of engines or cars within yards or on the road

• Ability to make decisions about switching, placement of cars and building of trains

• Monitor track conditions (e.g. broken rails, defective switches, weather-related problems)

• Maintain awareness of surrounding area and suspicious activity to ensure rail safety

• Inspect cars in conformance with Federal Railroad Administration Regulations. Observe the condition of passing trains

• Assist with other projects and perform other duties as assigned