Conductor

Position Overview

This role requires supervising train crews on freight trains and coordinating switch engine teams. Responsibilities include positioning cars for efficient loading, unloading, assembling, and disassembling trains within rail yards, industrial plants, or similar environments. The initial employment start is scheduled for October 5, 2026, with a three-week paid training program in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, followed by on-the-job training at the Miami terminal across various Conductor services such as Yard, Local, and Through Freight.

The starting wage is $29.34 per hour, which will be increased to between $39.86 and $44.42 per hour after the probationary period is completed, according to the collective bargaining agreement.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure strict adherence to train orders, signals, and rail safety regulations governed by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
• Collaborate with dispatchers, yardmasters, locomotive engineers, and train crews to review and execute instructions.
• Conduct pre-departure inspections of all railcar equipment.
• Transmit and receive communications via radio and telephone systems.
• Interpret bulletins, work orders, and switching lists accurately.
• Guide train crews in coupling/uncoupling railcars, operating switches, and performing minor mechanical repairs including couplings and air brake hose replacements.
• Coordinate with customers to ensure precise car movements and placements.
• Maintain vigilance over surroundings to detect suspicious activities and uphold rail safety.
• Operate locomotive equipment using remote control devices.
• Effectively interpret hand and color signals.
• Perform precise and rapid adjustments on machinery controls.
• Respond promptly to visual and auditory signals.
• Provide assistance to colleagues as directed.

Minimum and Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Valid driver's license.
• At least two years of verifiable work experience or college education.
• No alcohol or drug-related driving violations in the past three years.
• Preferred: experience working outdoors, mechanical aptitude, on-call work familiarity, flexible shift work experience, and handling heavy equipment.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Strong verbal comprehension to understand technical and general communications.
• Excellent communication skills for clear instruction delivery.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Sharp auditory and visual acuity.
• Basic mathematical proficiency.
• Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating manuals, and procedural documents.

Additional Job Requirements and Conditions

• Work schedules may involve non-standard weeks, overtime, shift work, and on-call availability 24/7, including extended time away and short rest periods complying with hours of service regulations.
• Opportunity for advancement to engineer role based on seniority.
• New hires typically assigned to night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
• Must be able to report within two hours of notification.
• Strict discipline applies to tardiness or refusal of work calls.
• Physical demands include occasionally lifting up to 90 pounds, bending, climbing, balancing, and working outdoors under all weather conditions and sometimes at heights.
• Safety compliance including use of protective gear such as hard hats, hearing protection, safety boots, and glasses is mandatory.
• Work may involve confined, awkward, or cramped spaces and riding outside rail equipment for prolonged periods.
• Annual safety training and examinations are required.
• Probation completion, background checks, drug and alcohol testing, medical examinations including vision and hearing tests are prerequisites.
• Must meet Federal Railroad Administration color vision standards.
• Employees must complete one year in current roles before applying for new positions; seniority regulations apply and changes in craft may impact seniority rights.
• Collective bargaining membership is required and the position operates under such agreements.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The employer is committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.