Train Conductor

Norfolk Southern

. Safely and efficiently move freight trains .

Posted 10/19/2026full-timeUnited StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $240 per dayWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in safely operating and managing freight trains, including coupling railcars and maintaining compliance with FRA regulations. Capable of performing inspections, troubleshooting issues, and maintaining accurate documentation while working in various weather conditions and non-traditional shifts.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Freight Train OperationRailcar CouplingFRA ComplianceRemote-Control Locomotive OperationDocumentation Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Train InspectionTroubleshootingSafety Regulations ComplianceWeight Lifting (Up to 85 lbs)Railcar AlignmentHand Brake ApplicationElectronic Documentation ManagementField EvaluationsVisual Acuity StandardsColor Vision Standards

Soft Skills

CommunicationTeam CollaborationProblem-Solving

Certifications & Qualifications

Valid Driver's LicenseFRA Drug and Alcohol Screening

Industry Keywords

Freight TransportationRailroad OperationsSafety InspectionsOn-Call ShiftsOutdoor Work

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Safely and efficiently move freight trains
Build trains by coupling railcars
Deliver railcars to customers
Transport trains across long distances
Manage electronic documentation and inspections
Troubleshoot train issues and report incidents
Build and inspect trains, railcars, and equipment for safe operation
Operate remote-control locomotives
Couple railcars, align drawbars, apply hand brakes, and ride railcars
Communicate with crews, dispatchers, and yard controllers
Maintain accurate documentation and comply with FRA and company safety regulations
Perform additional duties as assigned

Requirements

What you’ll need

Must be 18 years or older
Must hold a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation
Ability to report to work within 90 minutes
Clean driving record in the past 36 months, without suspension, revocation, cancellation, or denial of the 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 (FRA) drug and alcohol screening
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions
Ability to work non-traditional shifts, on call, and/or 12+ hour shifts
Ability to lift and carry up to 85 lbs.
Ability to hang from a rail car ladder with 3 points of contact for 1 minute 15 seconds per side
Ability to walk up to several miles per shift on uneven terrain
Must meet FRA medical requirements, including visual acuity, color vision, and hearing standards
Must pass all classroom, field, and on-the-job training requirements, including written exams and field evaluations

Benefits

Comp & perks

$5,000 retention bonus paid in installments: $1,000 upon completion of on-the-job training, $1,500 six months after training, and $2,500 twelve months after training
Hotel accommodations during the first five weeks of training
Weekly meal stipends during the first five weeks of training
Travel reimbursement from the hire location to the training center
Medical insurance for employees and eligible dependents beginning 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: 2 weeks after 2+ years, 3 weeks after 6+ years, 4 weeks after 15+ years, and 5 weeks after 23 years
Overtime at $30/hour during on-the-job training