Switchman - Toledo

Position: Switchman - Toledo, OR
Location: Toledo

Switchman - Toledo, OR 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

Starting Pay: $19.00 per hour. Increases to $21.00 per hour in July 2026.

General Purpose

The Switchman will work with crews to perform the safe switching of railcars, using locomotive power, based on customer requests. Switch crews are responsible for performing jobs efficiently and following all company and customer safety rules and completing corresponding paperwork at the end of every shift.

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
• Inspect locomotive before run to verify specified fuel, sand, water, and all other requirements.
• Read switching orders from designated person.
• Observe radio and hand signals in yard or in cab and operate locomotive in accordance with company and customer rules and regulations.
• Observe arm or lantern signal and move controls to move locomotive backwards or forwards to switch and couple cars; or receive starting signal and move control such as throttle and air brakes to operate locomotive.
• Talk to crew or other yard workers via radio to give or receive switching information.
• 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 as apply and release handbrakes.
• Observe track to detect obstructions.
• Inspect locomotive after run to detect damaged or defective equipment.
• Maintain records, number, origin, destination, and cargo of cars switched.
• May coordinate activities of switching crew from locomotive cab, or other on-site location.
• Raise coupling lever to couple or uncouple cars.
• Throw track switches to facilitate shunting of cars and signal.
• Move cars, using lantern, hand signals or radio.
• Connect air hose to cars when making up trains by bending and applying force.
• 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.
• Perform other duties as requested or required.

Machines, Tools, Special Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment Used

• Hammers, ratchets, chisel, pry bar, wrenches, and brushes.
• PPE: hard hat, vest, safety glasses, FR clothing, gloves, steel-toed boots.

Certificates and Licenses

• Valid driver’s license

Education and Experience

• High school education or general education development (GED).
• Ability to pass training and required testing.

Seniority level

• Entry level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Management and Manufacturing

Industries

• Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage

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