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The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to see details at a distance.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

The 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).

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Coordinate activities of switch-engine crew within railroad yard, industrial plant, or similar location. Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight trains. Yardmasters review train schedules and switching orders and coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains and yard switching.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge 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.

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Giving 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.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

Rail Transportation Workers

Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.

Confer with engineers regarding train routes, timetables, and cargoes, and to discuss alternative routes when there are rail defects or obstructions.

Receive information regarding train or rail problems from dispatchers or from electronic monitoring devices.

Receive instructions from dispatchers regarding trains' routes, timetables, and cargoes.

Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic.

Operate controls to activate track switches and traffic signals.

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.

Arrange for the removal of defective cars from trains at stations or stops.

Direct engineers to move cars to fit planned train configurations, combining or separating cars to make up or break up trains.

Inspect each car periodically during runs.

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Automated equipment identification AEI software

RailComm DocYard

SAIC government services and IT support software

Softrail AEI Automatic Yard Tracking System

Bourque Data Systems YardMaster

Freight reservation software

Inventory tracking software

Softrail AEI Rail & Road Manager

Microsoft Outlook

Positive train control PTC systems

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft Word

Switch adjusting wrenches

Terminal wrenches

Radio frequency identification RFID devices

Portable bar code scanners

Switching system controls

Weigh-in-motion scales

Automatic container locks

Locking ratchet wrenches

Laptop computers

Ultra high frequency UHF radio communication systems

Starter punches

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Every day

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions

Number of hours typically worked in one week.

More than 40 hours

How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable

Once a week or more but not every day

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Constant contact with others

Contact with others most of the time

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Extremely important

How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment

How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?

Extremely serious

Very serious

Serious

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Overview

Career

What Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Do

Other Job Titles Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Overview

Career

What Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Do

Other Job Titles Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Majors Related to Career

Related Leaders