Conductor - Horicon, WI

Join to apply for the Conductor - Horicon, WI role at Watco
.

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.

• 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

Guaranteed 50 hours a week.

The conductor/switchman position will control and coordinate train movements while switching railcars whether in a yard, an industrial plant, or a similar location to facilitate the unloading and loading of railcars in a safe and efficient manner to serve our customers. This is a manual labor position that requires proficiency in the following skills, duties, and requirements within a prescribed training and introductory period.

• 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 a 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 specify which cars are to be moved to a yard location using radio, verbal or hand signals.
• Communicate with 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 in switching operations.
• Turn hand brake wheel or apply a ratchet‑type brake to apply and release handbrakes.
• Observe track to detect obstructions.
• Maintain records of the number, origin, destination, and cargo of cars switched.
• Coordinate activities of the switching crew from a locomotive cab, caboose, or control tower.
• Raise coupling lever to couple or uncouple cars.
• Throw track switches to facilitate shunting of cars and signal the 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 the front of and at the rear of a train during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.
• Sit or ride in the cab of a locomotive to observe signals from other crew members.
• Make minor repairs to couplings or air hoses and report any equipment requiring major repairs.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Must be able to pass and/or obtain all reporting, testing, and certifications as required for this position.

• High school education or general education (GED) or 3 to 6 months job‑related experience; or equivalent of education and experience.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Entry level

Full‑time

Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology

Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage