Conductor - McPherson, KS

Job Summary

Starting Hourly Pay Rate: $22.00

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Demonstrate predictable, reliable, and timely attendance.
• Follow written and verbal directions to complete assigned tasks on schedule.
• Read, write, and communicate in English & understand basic math.
• Learn from directions, observations, and mistakes and apply procedures using good judgment.
• Read switching orders from designated person.
• Supervise and coordinate the activities of train crews.
• Receive oral or written instructions from Manager or Customer indicating which cars are to be switched.
• Notify engineer of switching orders and, whereby, which cars are to be moved to specified locations of yard, using radio, verbal or hand signals.
• Talk to crew or other yard workers via radio to give or receive switching information.
• Confer with train dispatcher via radio to issue or receive information or instructions concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
• Give instructions to throw track switches and to couple and uncouple cars.
• May assist workers to throw switches or perform other activities involved when performing switching operations.
• Turn hand brake wheel or ratchet type brake as well to apply and release handbrakes.
• Observe track to detect obstructions.
• Maintain records, number, origin, destination, and cargo of cars switched.
• May coordinate activities of switching crew from locomotive cab, caboose, or control tower.
• Raise coupling lever to couple or uncouple cars.
• Throw track switches to facilitate shunting of cars and signal Engineer to move cars, using lantern, arm signals or radio.
• The Conductor connects air hose to cars when making up trains by bending and applying force.
• May set warning signals, such as flares, flags, or lanterns at front of and at rear of train during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.
• Sit or ride in cab of locomotive to observe signals from other crew members.
• May make minor repairs to couplings, and air hoses and report any equipment requiring major repairs.
• Talk to Dispatcher via radio to give or receive switching information.