Freight Car Repairer

Norfolk Southern Corp.; Linwood (NC); On-site; USD 29,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage begins second month

401(k) eligibility from day one

Dental and vision after one year

Job summary

Norfolk Southern is seeking a Freight Car Repairer Trainee to join our union-based program. The role involves hands-on maintenance of freight cars, classroom instruction, and progression through craft training to ensure safe, reliable operations across our network.

Travel for training is required, and the position emphasizes safety, attendance on all shifts, and adherence to FRA and AAR standards. Starting pay escalates with training milestones and full-rate eligibility after two years.

Qualifications

• Mechanical aptitude required for inspecting, repairing and maintaining freight cars.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills needed for complex repairs.
• Ability to understand oral and written communication and provide clear instructions.

Responsibilities

• Inspect, repair, and maintain freight cars in compliance with FRA and AAR standards.
• Operate forklifts, cranes, and car-moving equipment.
• Perform welding and cutting operations (SMAW and FCAW) in multiple positions.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Problem-solving

Clear instructions communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

18 years of age or older

Tools

Welding and fabrication tools

Job description

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Location: Linwood, NC, US, 27299 Linwood, NC, US, 27299

Company: Norfolk Southern Corp.

A resume helps you stand out to hiring managers and recruiters; your resume communicates your experience and your brand. While it is not required, we encourage you to include an up-to-date resume along with a job application to give you the best opportunity to be considered. A complete resume helps us to better understand your unique background, relevant experiences, and passions. We look forward to learning about you.

Description

At Norfolk Southern, we believe that ourpeoplepowerprogress. Our culture is built on our SPIRIT values—Safety, Performance, Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and Teamwork—which guide how we work, lead, and grow together. Ifyou'reready to launch a career in mechanical maintenance and contribute to the reliability of our rolling stock, we invite you to explore the Freight Car Repairer Trainee role.

This hands-on, field-based position prepares individuals for a career in freight car maintenance through structured classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Trainees learn to inspect, repair, andmaintainrailcars to ensure safe and efficient operations across our network.

What Should You Know

This is a seniority-based union position.

You must be availabletowork shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Extensive travel for training may berequired.

Union membership isrequiredwithin60 daysofestablishingseniority.

Training

Training includes both classroom and field instruction:

• Classroom Training: Mechanical Safety Orientation and craft-specific training in welding and fabrication.
• Field Training: Hands-on experience in car repair shops and yards.

Duration: Approximately 7 weeks (1 week safety orientation +6 weekscraft training).

Norfolk Southern provides lodging andreimbursestravel per union agreement.

Job Responsibilities

Inspect, repair, andmaintainfreight cars in compliance with FRA and AAR standards.

Ensure compliance with all railroad rules and regulations for safety and operations.

Perform welding and cutting operations (SMAW and FCAW processes in 2F, 3F, and 4F positions).

Operate forklifts, cranes, and car-moving equipment.

Operate various vehicles and may berequiredto obtain a CDL for operation of Locomotive Service truck.

Straighten, fabricate, and replace steel parts such as grab irons, ladders, and sill steps.

Remove and replace defective components including wheels, couplers, brake equipment,air brake valves, yokes, and draft gears.

Rerail cars and locomotives using rerailing equipment.

Completeand enter information in computer systemsregardingcar components, destination, lading, repair records, bad orders, and car releases

Work safely to preventaccidents and injuriesand wear required protective equipment (hard hat, hearing protection, safety-toe boots).

Complete annual safety training and pass safety rules examinations.

Qualifications – Required

• High school diploma or GED.
• 18 years of age or older.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to pass pre-employment drug and alcohol screening and physical standards.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and perform heavy physical labor.
• Must pass background screening and post-offer medicalexaminations, including drugtests.

Qualifications – Preferred

• One or more years of welding and fabrication experience.
• Mechanical experience or Carman apprenticeship.
• Veterans and transitioning service members encouraged to apply (roles such as 2141, 91B, 91H, heavy equipment mechanics).

Skills and Abilities

• Mechanical aptitude.
• Problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to understand oral and written communication and provide clear instructions

Physical and Mental Job Requirements

• Ability tolift upto 50 lbs.
• Mustmaintainalertness and concentration while working around heavy, moving equipment.
• Ability to stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, crawl, balance, climb, and walk long distances over uneven terrain.
• Ability to meet FRA medical requirements:
• Visual acuity (at least 20/40 in each eye separately and both together withorwithout corrective lenses).
• Hearing—no hearing loss greater than 40B average, at 500, 1000, and 2000 in better ear (can be met with hearing aid).

Work Conditions

• Shop and outdoor environments.
• Shift work across all three shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Union membershiprequired.
• This is a safety-sensitive position requiring constant alertness while working around heavy, moving, potentially hazardous locomotive engines.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Progression:

• 1st 40 Working Days: $21.26 (50% of Full rate)
• Next 204 Working Days: $31.89 (75% of Full rate)
• Next 244 Working Days: $34.01 (80% of Full rate)
• After 2 Years/488 Working Days: $42.52 (100% of Full Rate)

Benefits include:

• Medical coverage begins the first day of the second month afterhire.
• Health insurance (80/20 or 85/15 plan), $20,000 life insurance, and 401(k) eligibility from day one.
• Dental and vision coverage after one year of service.

Job Description

Work shall consist of rail car repairing, inspection, and maintenance in accordance with federal and AAR regulations.

Primary Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all railroad rules and regulations for safety and operations
• Inspect car components for compliance with AAR and FRA standards.
• Obtain information from computer regarding car components, destination, lading, and repair records and/or to file data such as repair information, bad orders, and car releases.
• Able to proficiently use cutting torch in all positions.
• Must qualify in SMAW and FCAW welding processes that include 2F, 3F and 4F positions.
• Operate forklifts, light cranes, and car moving equipment.
• Operate various vehicles, maybe required to obtain CDL for operation of Locomotive Service truck.
• Rerail cars and locomotives by using rerailing equipment and perform other work associated with wreck service on the railroad.
• Straighten, fabricate, and replace steel parts such as: grab irons, handholds, ladders, ladder brackets, and sill steps.
• Repair, remove, or replace defective components such as wheels, safety appliances, truck and brake equipment, couplers, yokes, draft gears, and air brake valves, weld broken parts or secure new parts.

Job Requirements

• Work safely to prevent on the job accidents and injuries
• Wear protective equipment such as hard hat, hearing protection, or safety-toe boots
• Complete annual training and pass safety rules examinations
• Federal regulations require random testing for drugs and/or alcohol
• Must pass all required assessments
• Must pass a background screening
• This position is governed by a union agreement and membership is required
• Must pass a post-offer medical examination, including a drug test

Additional Information

Physical Requirements

• Heavy work, lifting to 50 pounds occasionally
• Stoop/bend/kneel/crouch/crawl/balance/climb
• Walk long distances over uneven terrain
• Demonstrate auditory and visual acuity/tracking/inspection
• Exposure to equipment that intensifies the heat factor on an occasional basis

Skills and Abilities

• Understand oral and written communication
• Problem solving and troubleshooting skills
• Provide clear instructions and directions
• Mechanical aptitude

Minimum Qualifications

• 18 years of age or older
• High school diploma or GED
• Mechanical experience

Preferred Qualifications

• One or more years of welding and fabrication experience
• Carman apprenticeship
• Veterans and transitioning service members are encouraged to apply. Military roles that often transition well to this position (but not limited to): 2141, 91B, 91H and heavy equipment mechanics are encouraged to apply.

Training

Travel for paid training to McDonough, GA. Freight Car Repairers will complete 1 week of Mechanical Safety Orientation and 6 weeks of craft specific training concerning welding and fabrication. Norfolk Southern will reimburse travel and pay for lodging as required per union agreement.

Compensation Data

Benefits

• Company Benefits - Eligible 1st day of second month after hire (during training)
• 80/20 plan for employee, spouse, and eligible dependents
• Union Benefits
• Medical (Managed or 85/15 Plan)
• $20K Life Insurance
• 401 (K) First Day of Employment
• After 1st year of service: Eligible for Dental / Vision

Rate of Pay

• 1st 40 Working Days: $20.44 (50% of Full rate)
• Next 204 Working Days: $30.66 (75% of Full rate)
• Next 244 Working Days: $32.70 (80% of Full rate)
• After 2 Years/488 Working Days: $40.88 (100% of Full Rate)

Work Conditions

This position is full time, shift work consists of: Irregular hours, including nights, weekend, holidays and occasional overtime.

Travel required for training.

Company Overview

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com .

Equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Together, we power progress.

@2023 Norfolk Southern Corp.
650 W. Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
@2023 Norfolk Southern Corp.