Conductor

TrainConductor

Enjoyingphysical labour, teamwork and working outdoors as well as being safety-mindedare vital to a career in rail operations at CN.

With a vibrant, 24 / 7 schedule,no two days will ever be alike. You can expect fresh challenges, asafety-focused work environment, paid training and supportive colleagues whoshare your passion for motion.

The careers we offer are meaningful because thework we do matters. Join us!

Conductors work as members of two or three persontrain crews and perform duties associated with the movement of trains, railcars, and locomotives in rail yards and on the road.

They coordinate theassembly of trains and execute any ground work outside the locomotive cab whilein the yard or en-route (ex : operating track switches, picking up rail cars,making emergency repairs, etc.).

Duties and Responsibilities :

• Ensuring compliance with all train orders, signals, and railroad rules and regulations related to safety, operation and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
• Providing and receiving various forms of oral and printed communication concerning the movement and placement of rail cars
• Observing, interpreting, and relaying signals concerning train and engine movement
• Operating track switches and derails to change engine and rail car routes
• Inspecting the condition of a train and equipment
• Preparing necessary forms and reports
• Maintaining predictable and reliable attendance
• Able to work an irregular schedule. The work schedule of a Conductor will be irregular and will include night, weekend, or holiday work hours and overtime.
• Conductors may also be required to travel and may be away from home for more than one night at a time.
• Follow company safety procedures, use common sense, and maintain an overall level of safety awareness when operating in the work environment
• Make effective decisions when in unfamiliar locations or emergency situations
• Perform additional tasks as required by supervisor from time to time

Work Conditions :

• Pushing, pulling, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds occasionally and assisting in the infrequent movement of weights of up to 83 pounds
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather and environmental conditions
• Operating various devices such as an uncoupling lever to separate and couple cars
• Applying handbrakes on rail cars and locomotives
• Climbing on and off ladders on moving rail cars
• High degree of manual dexterity with good hand-eye coordination
• Ability to grasp and hold objects and possess good climbing and balancing skills
• Ability to walk for frequent extended periods, sometimes on uneven surfaces
• Frequent bending, stooping, squatting, and kneeling

Work location :

Conductors assigned to over the road train may berequired to travel and may be absent from their home terminal for periods inexcess of 24 hours.

When Conductors are called, they may not know exactly whenthey will return. In the yard, shift assignments are based on seniority andshifts are normally 10-12 hours per day.

Training :

Newly hired Train Operators take part in severalweeks of training which includes classroom instructions and field training inHomewood, IL.

The training guides the new Conductor through the critical safetyskills required to work on the railroad. Once the classroom training iscomplete, the Conductor will complete trips as a trainee with a crew to enhancehis / her knowledge and skills.

Union :

The Conductor position is a unionized position. Wages, initiation fees, and monthly dues are required as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.

Minimum Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age
• Valid driver’s license
• High School diploma or GED
• Must meet all medical fitness for duty requirements for the position

The ideal candidate profile :

• Ability to work autonomously, adapt to different situations and manage stressful situations.
• Demonstrate good teamwork and maintain positive interactions with others.
• Good English verbal, reading comprehension and writing skills.
• Constantly alert and prepared for unexpected conditions or circumstances.
• Conform to operating rules and safety procedures and maintain a high level of safety awareness in the work environment, both for themselves and their colleagues.
• Dedicated to getting the job done while meeting established standards of quality, safety, productivity and client satisfaction.
• Displays common sense and good judgment.

Preferences :

• Relevant work experience in similar working conditions or regulatory / safety environment
• Knowledge of signals or Railroad Operating Rules
• Post secondary education

Last updated : 2024-04-04