Certified Conductor - $15,000 Bonus! Waukegan, Harvard, Crystal Lake, Elburn and Kenosha

Metra is one of the largest and most complex commuter rail systems in North America, serving Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane, and McHenry counties. The agency links communities in Northeastern Illinois by providing safe, reliable, and efficient service. The Transportation Department is responsible for providing safe, efficient, and dependable transportation to commuters on all Metra-operated lines: Milwaukee North and West, Rock Island, Metra Electric, Southwest Service, North Central Service, Heritage Corridor, and those lines operating under purchase of service agreements and Union Pacific.

About the role

Conductor positions are paid on a semi-monthly guaranteed basis. The monthly salary minimum is between $8,128.80 and $10,838.40, dependent on years of service as a Conductor at a previous railroad. There is opportunity to earn more than the monthly salary minimum once training is completed, but that is dependent on assignments worked. This is a Union position, and starting pay rates may vary based on entry rates in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Metra is a railroad employer subject to the provisions of the Railroad Retirement Tax Act, not the Social Security Administration.

Responsibilities

• Available to work seven (7) days per week with no regularly scheduled days off (including weekends and holidays) unless holding a regular assignment.
• Work hours may vary from day to day based on seniority.
• While marked to the Extra Board, may be called to protect assignments in one of Metra’s Yard Facilities, working outside for long periods in all weather conditions (heat, rain, ice, snow, cold).
• Work in yard facilities where trains may be rearranged, stored, or routed by throwing switches and lining trains onto designated tracks.
• Protect assignments in Commuter Service as an Assistant Conductor, Conductor, or Collector.
• Ensure safe performance of switching operations, on-time performance, switch alignment, correct car routing, delivery, and pickup.

Train Operation and Movement

• Perform duties while ensuring crew and passenger safety and on-time performance.
• Take appropriate action when conditions threaten safety.
• Verbally communicate information in-person or via radios, telephones, or Public Announcement System.
• Physically communicate using hand signals.
• Receive, relay, and act upon directives from Transportation Officials, Train Dispatchers, and Customer Service Personnel.
• Communicate with police and emergency response personnel.

Switching Operations

• Detrain and board stationary and/or moving equipment.
• Couple and uncouple air hoses.
• Ride on moving equipment by holding onto grab irons, standing on platforms, and standing on ladder steps in all weather conditions.
• Adjust and align knuckles for coupling.
• Read and align switches for train movement.
• Understand track numbers and locations.
• Operate various track switches and derails to change the routing of trains or cars.
• Apply and release hand brakes.

Conduct Train Inspections

• Inspect the condition of trains and equipment by performing radio tests, brake tests, and operating doors.
• Ensure proper job tools and necessary inventory are onboard (uniform, company-provided material such as iPad, iPhone, Ticket Punch, Keys, radio, flagging kit, fire extinguisher, first aid kits).
• Inspect the exterior of the train by walking the entire length of the train consist in inclement weather.

Communicate and Report Information

• Communicate information in-person and/or using radios, telephones, or hand signals.
• Receive, relay, and act upon directives from Transportation Officials, Train Dispatchers, and Customer Service personnel.
• Communicate with police and emergency response personnel.
• Communicate with passengers regarding delays, fare information, and travel questions using the Metra System, and de-escalate disputes that may arise onboard.

Cash Fare Collection

• Audit tickets and collect and remit ticket sale monies from fare-purchasing passengers.

Requirements

• High school degree or GED or railroad experience.
• Ability to submit work reports using electronic devices.
• Ability to read and understand all instructions, including operating and safety rules, bulletins, special instructions, and federal regulatory documents.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills to deliver information to coworkers, supervisors, railroad employees, and customers.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to push, pull, lift, and carry objects weighing up to 25 lbs.
• Normal color vision to detect and interpret visual color signals and displays, and determine the speed of moving objects at near or far distances.
• Capacity to walk, climb, and maintain balance on railcars, locomotives, stairs, ladders, uneven terrain, moving equipment, rails, and ballast safely (occasionally work at heights of twelve (12) feet or more).
• Able to perform physical work while occasionally bending, stooping, and/or kneeling.
• Normal depth perception to judge the speed and distance of locomotives being moved in the service area.

Work Conditions

• 18 years of age or older.
• Agree to wear personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, safety boots, hard hats, and hearing protection where required.
• Agree to wear a company-issued uniform while working in Commuter Service.
• Typically required to report to your assigned work location within a 2-hour timeframe.
• Willingness to practice safe work habits.
• Subject to random drug testing as required by the Federal government during duty hours.
• All individuals in train service are subject to random drug testing when selected by computer.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with, on, and around moving heavy equipment.
• Experience working outdoors in variable weather conditions.
• Completed a Railroad Conductor Training Course or Program.

Pay

Salary Range: $8,128.80 - $10,838.40 per month.

Additional Information

Metra prohibits the use or possession of marijuana (or marijuana paraphernalia), or having detectable amounts of marijuana in their bodies, including synthetic and/or non-synthetic substances such as THC, for any reason during pre-employment screening, while on duty, subject to duty, on Metra property, or in Metra work equipment and vehicles, regardless of state laws that legalize marijuana.