Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Course Advisor; United States; On-site; USD 44,690 - 95,330; Full time

Job summary

Course Advisor is looking for a dedicated Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster. In this role, you will coordinate activities of the train and yard crews, ensuring compliance with safety and operational standards while managing freight and passengers efficiently. Responsibilities include inspecting freight cars, directing workers, documenting reports, and supervising crew activities. This role offers competitive compensation, with salaries ranging from $44,690 to $95,330 annually based on location and experience.

Responsibilities

• Inspect freight cars for compliance with sealing procedures.
• Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities.
• Document reports of accidents, unscheduled stops, or delays.
• Instruct workers to set warning signals during emergency stops.
• Record departure and arrival times, messages, tickets, and revenue.
• Supervise crew activities to transport freight and passengers.

Skills

Monitoring

Speaking

Coordination

Critical Thinking

Time Management

Active Listening

Tools

Microsoft Office

Inventory tracking software

Job description

What Do Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster Do?

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.

Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster Responsibilities

• Inspect freight cars for compliance with sealing procedures and record car numbers and seal numbers.
• Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic.
• Document and prepare reports of accidents, unscheduled stops, or delays.
• Instruct workers to set warning signals in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops.
• Record departure and arrival times, messages, tickets and revenue collected, and passenger accommodations and destinations.
• Supervise and coordinate crew activities to transport freight and passengers and to provide boarding, porter, maid, and meal services to passengers.

Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster Required Skills

• Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
• Active Listening: 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.

Related Job Titles

• Traffic Control Operator
• Conductor/Brakeman
• Centralized Traffic Control Operator (CTC Operator)

Tools & Technologies Used by Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

• Microsoft Office
• Inventory tracking software

Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster Average Salary

The salary for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters ranges between about $44,690 and $95,330 a year. Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters who work in Maryland, California, or Wyoming, make the highest salaries.