Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Occupation Details

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

The main tasks and work activities of Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters are to signal others to coordinate vehicle movement, receive information or instructions for performing work assignments, direct passenger or freight transport activities, record operational details of travel. In general, for the Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters, coordination, monitoring, speaking, critical Thinking and other 15 skills are required.

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Job Description
Education	These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related Experience	Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Example	These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.

The following chart shows the education/training levels for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters jobs. 85.64% of Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 8.35% of Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters have Post-Secondary Certificate.

Less than a High School Diploma

0.00%

High School Diploma (or the equivalent)

85.64%

Post-Secondary Certificate

8.35%

Some College Courses

0.00%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

6.01%

Bachelor's Degree and Above

0.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.
Receive information regarding train or rail problems from dispatchers or from electronic monitoring devices.
Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic.
Keep records of the contents and destination of each train car, and make sure that cars are added or removed at proper points on routes.
Operate controls to activate track switches and traffic signals.
Instruct workers to set warning signals in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops.
Direct engineers to move cars to fit planned train configurations, combining or separating cars to make up or break up trains.
Receive instructions from dispatchers regarding trains' routes, timetables, and cargoes.
Review schedules, switching orders, way bills, and shipping records to obtain cargo loading and unloading information and to plan work.
Confer with engineers regarding train routes, timetables, and cargoes, and to discuss alternative routes when there are rail defects or obstructions.
Arrange for the removal of defective cars from trains at stations or stops.
Inspect each car periodically during runs.
Observe yard traffic to determine tracks available to accommodate inbound and outbound traffic.
Document and prepare reports of accidents, unscheduled stops, or delays.
Confirm routes and destination information for freight cars.
Supervise and coordinate crew activities to transport freight and passengers and to provide boarding, porter, maid, and meal services to passengers.
Supervise workers in the inspection and maintenance of mechanical equipment to ensure efficient and safe train operation.
Record departure and arrival times, messages, tickets and revenue collected, and passenger accommodations and destinations.
Inspect freight cars for compliance with sealing procedures, and record car numbers and seal numbers.
Collect tickets, fares, or passes from passengers.

Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.
Direct passenger or freight transport activities.
Record operational details of travel.
Control equipment that regulates vehicle traffic.
Direct emergency management activities.
Review work orders or schedules to determine operations or procedures.
Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Arrange maintenance activities.
Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment.
Monitor vehicle movement or location.
Prepare accident or incident reports.
Direct maintenance or repair activities.
Record operational or production data.
Collect fares or payment from customers.
Verify information or specifications.

Skills and Abilities for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Management of Personnel ResourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Systems EvaluationIdentifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Auditory AttentionThe ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Adjustable wrenchese.g. Adjustable wrenches
Lockout devicese.g. Automatic container locks
Dock platese.g. Bridge plates
Wire or cable cuttere.g. Cable sheath cutters
Winchese.g. Car pullers
Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
Intercom systemse.g. Intercom systems
Notebook computerse.g. Laptop computers
Ratchetse.g. Locking ratchet wrenches
Mainframe computerse.g. Mainframe computers
Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
Bar code reader equipmente.g. Portable bar code scanners
Location based messaging service platformse.g. Portable satellite communications systems
Radio frequency identification devicese.g. Radio frequency identification RFID devices
Punches or nail sets or driftse.g. Starter punches
Specialty wrenchese.g. Switch adjusting wrenches
Rail switching systemse.g. Switching system controls
Specialty wrenchese.g. Terminal wrenches
Tie down anchorse.g. Tie-down winches
Two way radiose.g. Two way radios

Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
TransportationKnowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Law and GovernmentKnowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Occupation Detailed Description

Tasks and Work Activities of Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Skills and Abilities for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters