Trainmaster - Cadillac, MI

Trainmaster – Cadillac, MI – Watco

The Trainmaster supervises and coordinates activities of train crews engaged in switching railroad cars within the yard of a railroad, industrial plant, or similar location. The role facilitates loading or unloading of cars and the assembly or disassembly of trains in a safe and efficient manner.

• 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

The Trainmaster ensures that yard switching operations are conducted safely, efficiently, and in accordance with all applicable regulations, while maintaining accurate record‑keeping, reporting, and crew management.

• Supervises and coordinates the activities of train crews
• Receives oral or written instructions from Manager or Customer indicating which cars are to be switched
• Notifies train crew of switching orders and specifies which cars are to be moved to specified yard locations using radio, telephone, verbal, or hand signals
• Manages cars online through various RMI reports
• Ensures daily train lists are accurate as generated by the customer service department and as completed by the train crews within the territory
• Ensures all reporting is done accurately and timely, including daily crew work sheets and weekly operational reporting
• Approves all man hours under his/her area of responsibility and forwards these hours to the necessary personnel or department on a timely basis
• Initiates and provides an accurate, complete, and timely investigation of all accidents and incidents, including causes, remedial action, and recommended solutions
• Understands the quantitative factors contributing to the major costs on the railroad and their effect on financial performance
• Adjusts locomotive consist requirements based on HP and trailing tons daily to minimize fuel consumption and maximize utilization
• Understands all outstanding track conditions within his/her territory, including slow orders, and their effect on productivity and efficiency
• Demonstrates predictable, reliable, and timely attendance
• Applies basic federal railroad regulations, guidelines, and rules
• Reads and comprehends written safety rules, procedures, and manuals; applies this knowledge to carry out instructions in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form; and applies logical reasoning to define problems and draw valid conclusions
• Communicates instructions, directions, processes, procedures, safety rules, and regulations to co‑workers, supervisors, and others in written, oral, diagrammatic, and schedule form
• Trains switch crews and yard personnel to perform job‑related duties and provides training related to federal and company regulations, rules, safety guidelines, and preventive maintenance
• Makes independent judgments using sound reasoning skills and knowledge
• Responds quickly to emergency and non‑emergency situations
• Communicates effectively with co‑workers, yard personnel, switching crew, engineers, railroad officials, and others in a clear, concise, courteous, efficient, and professional manner
• Passes required training and testing
• Performs other duties as requested or required

• PPE: hard hat, vest, safety glasses, FR clothing, gloves, steel‑toed boots

• High school education or GED, and minimum of 6 months job‑related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Must pass training and required testing

• Current locomotive engineer’s and conductor’s certification, continued to be held
• Valid driver’s license

Mid‑Senior Level

Full‑time

Management and Manufacturing – Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage