Jobs / Transportation and material moving / 53-4031.00
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.
- US jobs
- 46,440
- Median wage
- $78,000 a year
- Job family
- Transportation and material moving
Can agents do the work of railroad conductors and yardmasters?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Transportation and material moving: Unmeasured (no change in 12 months)
No direct benchmark gives a success rate.
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 22%Direct organizational operations, activities, or proceduresNot measured
- 18%Communicate with others about operational plans or activitiesNot measured
- 12%Read documents or materials to inform work processesNot measured
- 9%Maintain operational recordsNot measured
- 7%Signal others to coordinate work activitiesNot measured
- 6%Schedule operational activitiesNot measured
- 6%Inspect vehiclesNot measured
- 6%Monitor operations to ensure adequate performanceNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in transportation and material moving, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
- 82%Waymo Driver (rider-only, 220.6M miles through March 2026) · Mar 2026Unrated
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Observe yard traffic to determine tracks available to accommodate inbound and outbound traffic.
- 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.
- Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.
- Direct engineers to move cars to fit planned train configurations, combining or separating cars to make up or break up trains.
- Confirm routes and destination information for freight cars.
- Arrange for the removal of defective cars from trains at stations or stops.
- Review schedules, switching orders, way bills, and shipping records to obtain cargo loading and unloading information and to plan work.
- Receive information regarding train or rail problems from dispatchers or from electronic monitoring devices.
- 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.
- Confer with engineers regarding train routes, timetables, and cargoes, and to discuss alternative routes when there are rail defects or obstructions.
Other job titles for this occupation (19)
Conductor · Freight Conductor · Freight Train Conductor · Local Freight Conductor · Railroad Conductor · Railway Yardmaster · Thru Freight Conductor · Train Master · Trainman · Yardmaster · Passenger Conductor · Pullman Conductor · Road Conductor · Road Freight Conductor · Roadmaster · Sleeping Car Conductor · Train Conductor · Yard Conductor · Yard Spotter