Description
Oversee railroad yard operations, directing switching, track assignments, and train makeup/breakup. Review schedules and switching orders, coordinate yard crews and movements, and communicate with dispatch, engineers, and mechanical teams to ensure safe, efficient rail traffic and accurate documentation.
- • Review train schedules, switching orders, waybills, and shipping records to plan yard work.
- • Assign tracks and coordinate the makeup and breakup of trains.
- • Direct yard crews in switching, coupling, uncoupling, and car routing.
- • Signal engineers and crews to start, stop, or adjust movements in the yard.
- • Operate or authorize operation of track switches and yard signals.
- • Receive and relay instructions from dispatchers on routes, timetables, and priorities.
- • Confirm destinations, consists, and routing for inbound and outbound cars.
- • Keep records of car contents, locations, and movements within the yard.
- • Monitor yard traffic to determine track availability and prevent conflicts.
- • Arrange setouts of defective or bad-order cars and coordinate repairs or inspections.
- • Confer with engineers about routing and alternative tracks around defects or obstructions.
- • Document accidents, delays, and unscheduled stops and initiate response actions.
- • Instruct workers to place protection and warning signals during emergencies or work events.
- • Verify seal status and record car and seal numbers as required.
- • Record train arrivals, departures, messages, and switching activities.
- • Coordinate with mechanical, signal, and maintenance crews to support safe operations.
- • Ensure compliance with safety rules and operating procedures during yard movements.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Supply Chain & Transportation
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
