Watco
Start a Watco Career and Discover the Difference
Keep the world’s supply chain moving. That’s what the Watco team does every day at our short line railroads, switching sites, terminals, ports, and logistics hubs. Whether you’re at one of these locations or in a support‑services role, there’s one thread that ties everyone together: we’re all on the same team. One Watco.
Here’s What You Can Expect From Watco
Outstanding culture recognized by Forbes and Newsweek
Competitive compensation and benefits
Paid on‑the‑job training with peer trainers
Operations training at the Safe Performance Center in Birmingham, Alabama
Leadership and development programs offered through Watco University
Career advancement opportunities
Job Overview The conductor position will control and coordinate train movements and switch railcars in yards, industrial plants, or similar locations to facilitate the unloading and loading of railcars safely and efficiently. This is a manual labor position that requires proficiency in the following skills, duties, and requirements within a prescribed training and introductory period.
Essential Duties & 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 indicate which cars are to be moved to specific locations using radio, verbal or hand signals.
Talk to crew or other yard workers via radio to give or receive switching information.
Confere 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.
Assist workers to throw switches or perform other activities involved when performing switching operations.
Turn hand brake wheel or ratchet type brake to apply and release hand brakes.
Observe track to detect obstructions.
Maintain records of number, origin, destination, and cargo of cars switched.
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.
Connect air hose to cars when making up trains by bending and applying force.
Set warning signals, such as flares, flags, or lanterns at front and rear of train during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.
Ride in cab of locomotive to observe signals from other crew members.
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.
Qualifications
High school education or general education (GED) or 3 to 6 months job‑related experience; or equivalent of education and experience.
Must be able to pass and/or obtain all reporting, testing, and certifications required for this position.
Ability to work physically demanding tasks in a manual labor setting.
Good communication skills in English and basic math proficiency.
Strong judgment and problem‑solving ability.
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Keep the world’s supply chain moving. That’s what the Watco team does every day at our short line railroads, switching sites, terminals, ports, and logistics hubs. Whether you’re at one of these locations or in a support‑services role, there’s one thread that ties everyone together: we’re all on the same team. One Watco.
Here’s What You Can Expect From Watco
Outstanding culture recognized by Forbes and Newsweek
Competitive compensation and benefits
Paid on‑the‑job training with peer trainers
Operations training at the Safe Performance Center in Birmingham, Alabama
Leadership and development programs offered through Watco University
Career advancement opportunities
Job Overview The conductor position will control and coordinate train movements and switch railcars in yards, industrial plants, or similar locations to facilitate the unloading and loading of railcars safely and efficiently. This is a manual labor position that requires proficiency in the following skills, duties, and requirements within a prescribed training and introductory period.
Essential Duties & 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 indicate which cars are to be moved to specific locations using radio, verbal or hand signals.
Talk to crew or other yard workers via radio to give or receive switching information.
Confere 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.
Assist workers to throw switches or perform other activities involved when performing switching operations.
Turn hand brake wheel or ratchet type brake to apply and release hand brakes.
Observe track to detect obstructions.
Maintain records of number, origin, destination, and cargo of cars switched.
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.
Connect air hose to cars when making up trains by bending and applying force.
Set warning signals, such as flares, flags, or lanterns at front and rear of train during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.
Ride in cab of locomotive to observe signals from other crew members.
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.
Qualifications
High school education or general education (GED) or 3 to 6 months job‑related experience; or equivalent of education and experience.
Must be able to pass and/or obtain all reporting, testing, and certifications required for this position.
Ability to work physically demanding tasks in a manual labor setting.
Good communication skills in English and basic math proficiency.
Strong judgment and problem‑solving ability.
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