Rail Operator

About the role

The Rail Operator is a critical member of the Martin Marietta/Rock & Rail LLC logistics team, responsible for the safe, efficient, and reliable movement of freight trains, aggregates, and materials within our quarry, plant, and yard rail networks. The role requires strict adherence to Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regulations, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) guidelines, and Martin Marietta/Rock & Rail LLC rigorous "Safety First" corporate culture.

Responsibilities

• Direct and execute safe ground-level switching, coupling, and uncoupling operations of railcars to facilitate efficient material loading and unloading.
• Manually align and operate track switches and derail devices, ensuring proper switch point alignment prior to authorizing train movements.
• Safely ride on the exterior ladders and grab irons of moving rail equipment for extended periods during pushing and shoving movements.
• Cook up the exact spotting and staging of heavy aggregate cars at distribution yards, loading chutes, and under unloader mechanisms.
• Ensure 100% compliance with all train orders, signals, railroad operating rules, FRA regulations, and MSHA standards.
• Perform comprehensive physical inspections of railcars, air brake hoses, safety appliances, and couplings prior to train departure to detect defects.
• Conduct routine field repairs on railcars as needed, including replacing broken knuckle couplers and swapping out worn air brake hoses.
• Maintain accurate paper or digital records of railcar movements, mechanical defect reports, tracking manifests, and billing handoffs.
• Strictly enforce Lock-Out/Tag-Out (LOTO) procedures when performing minor mechanical adjustments and assist in maintaining clean, debris-free rail paths.
• Correctly wear and maintain all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including steel-toed boots, high-visibility vest, hard hat, and protective eyewear at all times.

Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED, or relevant experience
• Vocational training or equivalent experience
• Valid State Driver’s License
• 1+ year of direct Railroad experience as a Rail Operator
• Knowledge of machines and tools
• Equipment maintenance
• Inspection and maintenance procedures
• Preventative maintenance procedures
• Problem solving skills
• Detail oriented
• Time management
• Effective communication (written and spoken)

Skills

• Safety focused
• Comply with all railroad rules, regulations, and instructions
• Knowledge of machines and tools
• Equipment maintenance
• Inspection and maintenance procedures
• Preventative maintenance procedures
• Problem solving skills
• Detail oriented
• Time management
• Effective communication (written and spoken)

Benefits

At Martin Marietta, we place a high value on internal pay equity and will consider the compensation for those in similarly situated roles and direct team members. The hiring range for this role represents the base compensation we expect to pay for the position at time of hire and does not represent the total possible base pay of the position. In addition to our base compensation, we also offer a competitive benefits package for full-time employees, including medical, dental and vision coverage; prescription drug coverage; health savings accounts; flexible spending accounts; life, AD&D and disability insurance; 401(k) with a company match and an employer-funded defined benefit pension plan. Other benefits include paid time off, paid holidays, education/tuition assistance, an employee discount program, adoption assistance, wellness programs and more.