Watco · 17 hours ago
Student Conductor - Freeport, TX
Freeport, TX
Full-time
Onsite
New Grad
$19/hr - $19/hrWatco is a company focused on keeping the world’s supply chain moving through their railroads and logistics hubs. The Student Conductor will work with crews to safely switch railcars and ensure compliance with safety rules while completing necessary paperwork at the end of each shift.
Customer ServiceLogisticsTransportationWarehousing
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
Inspects locomotive before run to verify specified fuel, sand, water, and all other requirements
Reads switching orders from designated person
Observes radio and hand signals in yard or in cab and operates locomotive in accordance with company and customer rules and regulations
Observes arm or lantern signal and moves controls to move locomotive backwards or forwards to switch and couple cars; or receives starting signal and moves control; such as throttle and air brakes to operate locomotive
Talks 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
Turns hand brake wheel or ratchet type brake as well as apply and release handbrakes
Observes track to detect obstructions
Inspects locomotive after run to detect damaged or defective equipment
Maintains records, number, origin, destination, and cargo of cars switched
May coordinate activities of switching crew from locomotive cab, or other on-site location
Raises coupling lever to couple or uncouple cars
Throws track switches to facilitate shunting of cars and signals
Move cars, using lantern, hand signals or radio
Connects air hose to cars when making up trains by bending and applying force
Sits or rides 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
Performs other duties as requested or required
Qualification
Required
High school education or general education development (GED)
Ability to pass training and required testing
Valid driver's license
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
Inspects locomotive before run to verify specified fuel, sand, water, and all other requirements
Reads switching orders from designated person
Observes radio and hand signals in yard or in cab and operates locomotive in accordance with company and customer rules and regulations
Observes arm or lantern signal and moves controls to move locomotive backwards or forwards to switch and couple cars; or receives starting signal and moves control; such as throttle and air brakes to operate locomotive
Talks 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
Turns hand brake wheel or ratchet type brake as well as apply and release handbrakes
Observes track to detect obstructions
Inspects locomotive after run to detect damaged or defective equipment
Maintains records, number, origin, destination, and cargo of cars switched
May coordinate activities of switching crew from locomotive cab, or other on-site location
Raises coupling lever to couple or uncouple cars
Throws track switches to facilitate shunting of cars and signals
Move cars, using lantern, hand signals or radio
Connects air hose to cars when making up trains by bending and applying force
Sits or rides 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
Performs other duties as requested or required
Benefits
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
Company
Watco
Watco is a full-service supply chain solutions provider specializing in rail, transloading, and logistics.
Founded in 1983
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$1.57BKey Investors
Duration Capital Partners
2025-09-03Debt Financing· $250M
2025-06-17Private Equity· $600M
2024-07-10Debt Financing· $700M
Leadership Team
Dan Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Andy Cordischi
SVP, Chief Information Officer
Recent News
Morningstar.com
2025-09-04
2025-09-04
Venture Capital Firms
2025-06-22
Company data provided by crunchbase