Train Conductor - Military Veterans
at CPKC
CPKC is hiring for December 2024 - April 2025
Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) are now CPKC. As the only truly North American railway, we are making big moves! Drawing on our strong foundations and heritage, CPKC moves essential goods across our 20,000-mile network to support economic growth throughout Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Be a part of history as we connect a continent and create exciting career opportunities across our new transnational network. Visit cpkcr.com to learn about the CPKC advantage, our purpose and culture.
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The conductor position is a foundational role in the railway and operates within the framework of the union agreement. A conductor works as a member of a train crew that assists in switching rail cars, making or splitting up trains in rail yards, or moving rail cars between rail yards. This position requires you to be vigilant about the safety of yourself and those around you. You must be prepared for unscheduled shift work, being away from home for extended periods of time and working outdoors in all types of weather.
Joining CPKC as a conductor can lead to career growth as a Yard Foreperson, Locomotive Engineer or management.
Wondering if the conductor role is right for you? Complete this Realistic Job Preview to see if you would be a good fit for the Conductor lifestyle. Watch this video to hear an employee's perspective on what it takes to be a CPKC Conductor.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
• Must be able to perform work that can be physically demanding such as walking up to 6 miles a day on uneven ground, climbing up and down and lifting and pulling heavy objects (up to 80 pounds on occasion)
• Willingness to work unscheduled shift work in a 24/7 operating environment
• Working up to 12 hour shifts which include days, evenings, overnight, weekends and holidays
• Ability to report to work within a two hour call window, after scheduled rest
• Excellent focus, attention to detail and ability to multitask
• Strong communication skills (provide clear and concise instructions/directions including over radio)
• Willingness to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions for long periods of time
• Must be able to pass the required physical job tasks for the job position, written examinations, read and understand safety instructions, read and understand operating rules and regulations and other written or printed material in English
• Must be at least 18 years old
• High school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED) required
• Valid driver's license required
POSITION ACCOUNTABILITIES
• Work in either train or yard service depending on seniority
• Carry out specific instructions detailing a train's route and specific movements
• Coordinate the switching of cars, including coupling and uncoupling cars and lifting out coupling device
• Observe, interpret, and relay signals and other indications affecting movement of train
• Signal crew members for movement of the engine or train using specific signals, or radio to indicate when to start, stop, back-up, set or release air brakes
• Maintain a thorough understanding of and follow General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR), general orders and bulletins
• Provide flag protection and relay signals to trains in an emergency situation
• Move on and off moving or stationary equipment
• Fill out forms including train orders and switch lists and prepare clear and legible reports
• Handle emergency situations and operate fire extinguishers as well as be able to apply first aid techniques
WHAT CPKC HAS TO OFFER
• Flexible and competitive benefits package
• Employer Funded Retirement Plan
• Employee Share Purchase Plan
• Annual Fitness Subsidy
• Part-time Studies Program
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
TRAINING
CPKC provides 16 weeks of paid in-class and field training. Providing you with a solid understanding of our safety practices, rules and operations. You will earn $237.67 per day in classroom training and $38.84 per hour in on-the-job training. The average conductor earns approximately $117,000 annually, with the ability to make up to $133,000.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Operating safely is a core foundation of CPKC. As this position is considered safety critical, successful candidates are required to complete a pre-employment medical that includes a physical, vision (including accurate color vision), hearing, alcohol, and drug audit assessment. Pre-employment qualification drug test(s) are also required. Candidates will also be required to pass a drug test during the training process before receiving final qualification for the position.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS
The successful candidate will need to successfully complete the following clearances:
• Criminal history check
• Driver's License Verification
• Last 3 years of driving history
• Last 7 years of employment history; includes military service
• Social Security number verification
CPKC is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, inclusive of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
• Req ID: 103400
• Department: Operations Southern Division
• Job Type: Full-Time
• Position Type: Union
• Location: Kansas City , Missouri
• Country: United States
• % of Travel: 80-90%
• # of Positions: 10
• Job Available to: Internal & External
#LI-ONSITE
#LI-KD1
Location:
Kansas City, MO, US, 64120
Nearest Major Market: Kansas City
At CPKC, we value and recognize the invaluable skills and experience you have gained from serving your country. Leadership, teamwork, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with a strong focus on safety are among the many skills that veterans bring to railroading. That's why we want to be your first choice in a new career outside the military.
WHY CPKC
TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS
The skills and experience you’ve gained while serving in the military align exceptionally well with the railroading industry.
CAREER GROWTH
There are no limits to how far your career will take you with CPKC. We offer career growth and professional development opportunities.
SAFETY
Safety is the foundation for everything we do. CPKC was named the safest Class 1 railroad in North America for the 16th consecutive year in 2021, with the lowest Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) reportable train accident frequency (per million train miles) among Class 1 railroads in North America.
Kansas City, MO
Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) are now CPKC. As the only truly North American railway, we are making big moves! Drawing on our strong foundations and heritage, CPKC moves essential goods across our 20,000-mile network to support economic growth throughout Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Be a part of history as we connect a continent and create exciting career opportunities across our new transnational network.
Why work at CPKC:
There are many reasons why more than 20,000 employees have chosen to work at CPKC, including:
- Diversity in the workplace
We support an open and honest work environment where differences are valued and all employees are given equal opportunity to contribute and develop.
- Our Foundations
A building is only as strong as its foundation; railroads are no different
- Compensation & Benefits
Our compensation program is benchmarked yearly to ensure our compensation practices reflect the realities of the market.
- Health and Safety of our employees
No job is so important that proper time cannot be taken to do it safely. At CPKC, safety is an absolute priority.
At CPKC, we're all railroaders and our culture is one of hard work, accountability and doing what we say we'll do. Why? Because we want to see our customers' businesses grow. Our company's ongoing growth and pursuit of both new transportation initiatives and operational improvement require a highly skilled, flexible and committed workforce.
Available Openings:
Learn more about the many career opportunities with CPKC:
https://www.cpkcr.com/en-ca/careers
Military:
We recognize the invaluable skills and experience that you have gained from serving for your country. That's why we want to be your first choice in a new career outside the military. We offer rewarding careers, competitive pay and benefits, and advancement opportunities.
Not sure where to start? / Application Advice:
We encourage military personnel to apply at CPKC within 90 days of your release from service. The following tips and advice will help you apply for position online and prepare for an interview.
Click the link below to guide you to a career opportunity with CPKC that will align with your military experience:
https://www.cpr.ca/en/careers/veterans
When to Apply:
We recommend that you apply for open positions within 90 days of the actual date you can begin work. This will allow time to find the position that best matches your previous education and experience. Depending on the position, the recruitment process typically takes 5-8 weeks after a job posting closes to complete the process. To understand more about the hiring process for a particular position, please visit the hiring process.
How to Apply:
- Create an account profile on our website.
- When you apply for positions, you are required to self-identify as “Military Organization” for the question “How did you hear about this position?”
- If there are currently no positions in your area that match your qualifications, we encourage you to create a Job Profile (account) and set-up ‘Job Alerts’ that will advise you when new jobs have been posted in your area of interest.
- For more information on how to apply, create a profile, or a job alert, please read our frequently asked questions.
Personal Information:
If you have a local address in the geographical location of the job you are applying for, use that address on your resume. Please also use an email address and telephone number where you can receive communication from CPKC. Most communication for our jobs postings are via email, so it is important that you check your email regularly for updates.
Website: Our careers website is https://www.cpkcr.com/en-ca/careers
Disclaimer: At CPKC, we value and recognize the invaluable skills and experience you have gained from serving your country. Leadership, teamwork, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with a strong focus on safety are among the many skills that veterans bring to railroading. That's why we want to be your first choice in a new career outside the military.
WHY CPKC
TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS
The skills and experience you’ve gained while serving in the military align exceptionally well with the railroading industry.
CAREER GROWTH
There are no limits to how far your career will take you with CPKC. We offer career growth and professional development opportunities.