Conductor Trainee - Vancouver, WA
About the role
This posting is for a "Primary Recall" location. Employees hired at a "Primary-Recall" location have a three-year obligation (from date of hire) to return to their hiring location if called back to stabilize the location’s workforce.
Salary Range
Entry rate is approx. $259.65 per day with an average annual salary of $70,000 - $82,000.
Work Shifts
Full-time (40 hrs/wk) Subject to on-call (24/7), nights, weekends, and holidays Work in geographic area as posted and report to assigned work location when notified
Working Conditions
- Extreme all-weather conditions
- Walk and perform work on uneven surfaces
- Safety sensitive work environment
- Loud noise and fumes
- Work on and around heavy and moving machinery
Duties/Responsibilities
- COMMUNICATION
- Obtain and receive information and act on oral or written instructions by various communication devices
- Monitor and report daily work
- TRAIN OPERATION
- Climb on/off equipment, set/release hand brakes, couple/uncouple air hoses, remove/replace broken railcar knuckle, ride moving cars by holding onto grab irons or ladders
- Observe, interpret and relay hand, lantern, and other signals for train movement
- Judge and control speed and clearance distance of cars
- Switching Functions
- Operate track switches and derails to change train routing within yards or on road
- Check switch points for proper alignment
- TRAIN AND EQUIPMENT INSPECTIONS
- Switch, spot cars and determine train make-up
- Observe and monitor track conditions (e.g. broken rails, defective switches, weather-related problems)
- Inspect cars per federal regulations
- Observe and report on passing train conditions
- At least 18 years of age, or will be by the start date listed above
- Able to report for duty at the designated work location
- Able to work safely in the above working conditions
- Able to work the above shift/hours
- Able to meet the above travel requirements
- Able to read, write and communicate (speak, hear and understand) English
- Able to lift and carry up to 80 pounds
- Able to see, learn, and interpret hand signals from near and far; visually distinguish colors - red, blue, green, yellow and lunar (clear light); visually judge speed and distance of moving objects; see at night
- Able to discriminate and differentiate between verbal and non-verbal sounds (signals, alarms, etc.) in the work environment
- Able to visually distinguish and differentiate colors on computer display screens
- Able to use hands and use hand tools to perform activities involving holding, grasping, turning and pulling
- Able to climb ladders and get on/off equipment
- Able to work at various heights above the ground including on locomotives, railcars and other equipment
- Able to bend, lift, walk and stand occasionally with breaks
- Able to sit frequently with breaks
- Follow safety policies and procedures; wear required personal protective equipment
Qualifications
Training
Company-paid on-the-job and classroom training for up to 19 weeks and may include travel to BNSF's Training Center in Overland Park, KS
Relocation
Relocation assistance is not available
UNION
SMA-RD or BLET Dues required per union agreement
Probationary Period
60 days
Seniority District Transfers
Transfer eligibility varies by location May require up to 3 years of employment and General Manager approval
Benefits
BNSF Employees receive a competitive benefit package. All positions require pre-employment background verification, medical review and pre-employment drug screen. Background Investigation Elements Criminal history Last 7 years of driving history Last 5 years of employment history to include military service Social Security number Education Medical Review Elements Medical evaluation Drug Screen Other elements as needed Drug Test Elements BNSF is committed to a safe and drug free work place and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing. All new hires are required to undergo a hair drug test which detects the presence of illegal drugs for months prior to testing. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping BNSF safe and drug free. Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC): Federal authority requires BNSF employees, whose work requires unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities, to obtain a TWIC. A TWIC is a condition of employment for such positions and requires candidates to those positions to submit to a TSA security assessment (to include, but not limited to, providing: biographic information; identity documents; fingerprints; digital photograph).