Conductor Trainee Jobs

Apply early as this job may be filled at any time.

Job Location: Cicero
Other Potential Locations: Cicero, IL; Aurora, IL
Anticipated Start Date: 06/19/2023
Number of Positions: 36
Salary Range: Entry rate is approx. $221/day, with an average annual salary of $70,000 - $82,000.

The average daily rate while in training as a new hire conductor will be approximately $221 per day, or $27.68 per hour (based on 8 hour basic day shift). On average, employees starting out as new hire conductors will earn $75,000 per year following training, and holding a regular assignment. Based on job selections and seniority at your location, earning potential for experienced conductors could grow to $94,000+ depending on hours worked and other factors. Based on staffing needs and seniority, a conductor will be required to complete required training to promote to a locomotive engineer position. Based on seniority and job selection, many engineers will often earn $135,000 - $145,000 due to work opportunities at their location. Again, this is an average based on hours worked, pay rates, and other factors.

Read below to learn more about our industry leading benefits package.

All communication with applicants will be done via email. Please check your email on a daily basis.

Who we are and what we do

Do you want to be a part of something that really matters? Team BNSF includes professionals focused on safety and service that play a vital role in delivering the nation's freight. Together, we help move goods and materials that sustain life and support local, national and global economies. Our rail network is one of the largest freight railroads, spanning 28 western states and serving three Canadian provinces.

What we believe

At BNSF, our Vision and Values drive who we are, not only in our words, but also our actions. BNSF is committed to our foundational values of equality and inclusion. As members of the BNSF community, our employees are entitled to:

• Have equal access to tools, resources, training and development opportunities.
• Have equal opportunity to achieve their full potential.
• Be treated with dignity and respect.

We model the way through our leadership, our BNSF Diversity Councils, our eclectic Business Resource Groups, our deep involvement and investment in the communities we serve and through training programs. Our actions create an inclusive, open and collaborative workplace that encourages diverse perspectives in all interactions.

SAFETY:

At BNSF, Safety is a core value of how we do business. Each and every day, our employees are committed to approach one another about safety, which is key in realizing our vision. Employees are also expected to comply with company and federal safety & health regulations, safety rules & policies, as well as procedures that guide work practices to reduce risk to exposure. Such work practices include but are not limited to wearing required safety equipment, responding to safety concerns, and taking appropriate actions in the event of an emergency.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

This position is responsible for safely switching railcars and safe train movement. Additional responsibilities include the following:

COMMUNICATION

• Obtain and receive information and act on oral or written instructions by various communication devices

• Monitor and report daily work

TRAIN OPERATION

• Observe, interpret and relay hand, lantern, and other signals for train movement
• Climb on/off equipment, set/release hand brakes, couple/uncouple air hoses, remove/replace broken railcar knuckle, ride moving cars by holding onto grab irons or ladders

• Judge and control speed and clearance distance of cars

SWITCHING FUNCTIONS

• Check switch points for proper alignment
• Operate track switches and derails to change train routing within yards or on road

TRAIN AND EQUIPMENT INSPECTIONS

• Observe and monitor track conditions (e.g. broken rails, defective switches, weather-related problems)
• Switch, spot cars and determine train make-up
• Inspect cars per federal regulations

• Observe and report on passing train conditions

The duties and responsibilities in this posting are representative categories to be used in deciding whether to apply for this position. This is not an exhaustive list of the position’s duties.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Loud noise and fumes
• Safety sensitive work environment
• Work on and around heavy and moving machinery
• Extreme all-weather conditions
• Walk and perform work on uneven surfaces

SHIFTS/HOURS

• Full-time (40 hrs/wk)
• Subject to on-call (24/7), nights, weekends, and holidays
• Work in geographic area as posted and report to assigned work location when notified

TRAVEL

• Travel to and remain on designated seniority region for days at a time
• Frequent

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to report for duty at the designated work location
• Able to work safely in the above working conditions
• At least 18 years of age, or will be by the start date listed above

• Ability to see, learn, and interpret hand signals from near and far; visually distinguish colors - red, blue, green, yellow and lunar (clear light); visually judge speed and distance of moving objects; see at night
• Able to work the above shift/hours
• Able to meet the above travel requirements
• Ability to lift and carry up to 80 pounds
• Ability to read, write and communicate (speak, hear and understand) English

• Ability to work at various heights above the ground including on locomotives, railcars and other equipment
• Ability to climb ladders and get on/off equipment
• Ability to use hands and use hand tools to perform activities involving holding, grasping, turning and pulling
• Ability to visually distinguish and differentiate colors on computer display screens
• Ability to discriminate and differentiate between verbal and non-verbal sounds (signals, alarms, etc.) in the work environment

• Ability to bend, lift, walk and stand occasionally with breaks
• Ability to sit frequently with breaks
• Follow safety policies and procedures; wear required personal protective equipment

TRAINING

• Company-paid on-the-job and classroom training for up to 17 weeks and may include travel to BNSF's Training Center in Overland Park, KS

RELOCATION

• Relocation assistance is not available

UNION

• SMART-TD or BLET
• Dues required per union agreement

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

• 60 days

SENIORITY DISTRICT TRANSFERS

• Transfer eligibility varies by location
• May require up to 3 years of employment and General Manager approval

BNSF BENEFITS:

BNSF provides you with a comprehensive benefits package.

You have access to medical insurance for you, your spouse, and eligible dependents on the first day of the calendar month after you are employed. After one year of employment, you are eligible for dental and vision insurance to cover yourself and eligible dependents, at no cost to you.

Benefits include:

• Cardiac center of excellence
• Sickness Benefits through Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)
• Pharmacy
• Opportunity to purchase Berkshire Hathaway Stock
• 401(k) plan to help you save for your retirement
• Medical
  • Pharmacy
  • Telemedicine
  • Second opinion services
  • Cardiac center of excellence
  • Health coach / experts that can help you find the right care
• Health coach / experts that can help you find the right care
• Discounts on gym memberships, fitness classes, travel, moving, mortgage lending, pet insurance and more.
• Second opinion services
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) to help you save money for medical, dental, vision, and childcare expenses
• Telemedicine

BNSF pays for the following benefits:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
• Vacation, Holidays, Personal Leave Days
• Family support benefits: pregnancy and infancy support, adoption and surrogacy reimbursement

BNSF supports growing families by providing access to adoption and surrogacy assistance with financial reimbursement up to $5,000, pregnancy support and dependent care location services.

We’re invested in you – in your growth. If you are pursuing a degree, or would like to in the future, BNSF offers a tuition reimbursement program to support your individual growth.

As a railroader, you earn a Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) annuity rather than a Social Security benefit, and you and BNSF pay RRB taxes (Tier 1 and Tier 2) rather than Social Security taxes. RRB taxes are generally higher, which means you’ll receive a higher monthly benefit amount in retirement than if you were receiving Social Security. Unreduced RRB benefits become payable as early as age 60 with 30 years of rail service (as compared to reduced Social Security benefits at age 62).

Additional information about these benefits can be found at myBNSFbenefits.com.

• Last 7 years of driving history
• Social Security number
• Last 5 years of employment history to include military service
• Education
• Criminal history

• Medical evaluation
• Drug Screen
• Other elements as needed

Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC): Federal authority requires BNSF employees, whose work requires unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities, to obtain a TWIC. A TWIC is a condition of employment for such positions and requires candidates to those positions to submit to a TSA security assessment (to include, but not limited to, providing: biographic information; identity documents; fingerprints; digital photograph). More information is available at https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic.

F: MO | Transportation Transitioning Military | Operations - Transportation | Cicero, IL | 60804

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