Train Conductor

Norfolk Southern

. Safely and efficiently move freight trains .

Posted 10/19/2026full-timeAsheville • North Carolina • United 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 performing inspections. Complies with FRA regulations and maintains accurate documentation while effectively communicating with team members.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Freight Train OperationRailcar CouplingFRA ComplianceRemote Control Locomotive OperationHeavy Equipment Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Train InspectionElectronic Documentation ManagementTroubleshooting Train IssuesSafety Procedure ComplianceAbility to Lift 85 lbsColor Vision TestingHearing Acuity StandardsAbility to Work OutdoorsAbility to Walk on Uneven TerrainAbility to Hang from Rail Car Ladder

Soft Skills

Effective CommunicationTeam CollaborationProblem-Solving

Certifications & Qualifications

Valid Driver's LicenseFRA Drug and Alcohol Screening

Industry Keywords

Freight TransportationRailroad OperationsUnion MembershipOn-Call WorkNon-Traditional Shifts

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
Report incidents and ensure compliance with safety procedures
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 any suspension, revocation, cancellation, or denial of a 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 to undergo a drug or alcohol test related to the operation of 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 on-call 24/7 with as little as 90 minutes’ notice
Expectation to spend 2–3 days away from home weekly
Must join a union within 60 days after completing training
Must pass all classroom, field, and on-the-job training requirements, including written exams and field evaluations
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 several miles per shift on uneven terrain
Must meet FRA medical requirements
Visual acuity of at least 20/40 in each eye separately and both together, with or without corrective lenses
Ability to pass specific FRA color vision tests; corrective lenses used to improve color vision are not permitted
Hearing loss no greater than 40 dB average at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz in the better ear; hearing aid permitted
Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and irregular schedules, including nights, weekends, holidays, and 12+ hour shifts
Preferred: experience working outdoors in various weather conditions
Preferred: experience with heavy equipment or physically demanding roles
Preferred: experience working non-traditional shifts, on call, and/or 12+ hour shifts

Benefits

Comp & perks

$5,000 retention bonus, paid in installments upon completion of training, six months, and 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 hire location during the first five weeks of training
Overtime at $30/hour during on-the-job training
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 eligibility: 2 weeks after 2 years, 3 weeks after 6 years, 4 weeks after 15 years, and 5 weeks after 23 years