What does a Railroad Conductor do?
Railroad Conductors help keep platforms, stations and trains safe by supervising train operations and monitoring the loading and unloading process for compliance. They meet passengers at the boarding station and collect payments, punch tickets, assist with boarding and attend to passenger needs during transit. At the yard, a conductor oversees the linkage and separation of cars. An important part of the Railroad Conductor’s job is to coordinate other railroad workers to operate as a team.
Railroad Conductor skills and qualifications
Successful Railroad Conductors benefit from solid communication skills and are usually very safety conscious with an eye for details. The variety of Railroad Conductor job duties require that candidates for this position have:
-
A solid customer service attitude and desire to assist rail passengers
-
Knowledge of railroad safety procedures and transportation protocols
-
Ability to assertively coordinate engineers, yard workers and other railroad employees during passenger loading and unloading procedures and switching operations
-
A willingness to enforce railroad rules and federal government standards
-
Good time management and the ability to meet deadlines, such as departure schedules
-
Effective supervisory skills and a willingness to teach others
-
Strong analytical capabilities and the ability to solve novel problems in real-time
Railroad Conductor experience requirements
Railroad Conductors don’t need to have experience working around trains before they start, but training on the job with an experienced conductor is required for up to 12 months. Some conductors get their start as railroad yardmasters, which has its own job training requirement, but no prior experience is needed. Experience working with freight in any capacity can be helpful, as is a customer service background.
Railroad Conductor education and training requirements
New Railroad Conductors are typically working toward getting certified as train conductors by the Federal Railroad Administration. This requires a high school diploma and up to 12 months of on-the-job training under a currently certified conductor. Most large rail companies provide this training in-house, while smaller employers make use of third-party vocational training. Among conductors with postsecondary education, many have an associate degree in rail operations or a related field.
Railroad Conductor salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Railroad Conductor is $16.82 per hour. This amount varies between employers, level of experience and special considerations, such as night work and overtime.
Job description samples for similar positions
If a Railroad Conductor isn’t quite the job you’re looking to fill, you might be better off hiring someone with a background in a related field. Have a look at these similar professions to find one that’s right for you:
Railroad Conductor job description FAQs
Do Railroad Conductors work long hours?
A Railroad Conductor career may come with exceptionally long days, though a variable weekly schedule may keep their total hours worked per week close to 40. Depending on the employer and the season, Railroad Conductors might work 11-12 hours a day as a matter of routine.
Do Railroad Conductors get free travel?
Because their job requires riding on trains, Railroad Conductors frequently travel great distances during a regular shift. Railroad carriers try to switch conductors to returning trains at the end of their shift, but sometimes a Conductor has to spend a night or two away from home. The company nearly always pays for reasonable travel expenses.
Do Railroad Conductors wear a uniform?
The black three-piece uniform and round hat of a Railroad Conductor used to be close to universal, but now far fewer conductors wear it. Different employers have their own uniform policies, and some conductors still dress like their counterparts from the 1930s, but some wear street clothes with safety gear in the yards and on the train.
Do Railroad Conductors provide security on a train?
Keeping order on a train is one of the Conductors’ duties, as is enforcement of the fare requirement. Railroad Conductors aren’t security guards, but they may have to file reports with transit authorities or detain an unruly passenger from time to time.
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
