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.

The occupation "Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters" has an automation risk of 56.7%, closely aligned with its base risk of 57.5%. This moderately high risk reflects the significant number of routine tasks that can be replicated by automation technologies, especially as rail operations become increasingly digitized and reliant on centralized control systems. Automated communication systems, electronic monitoring, and advanced signaling technologies contribute to this susceptibility, facilitating the automated management of trains and track activity. However, the occupation still requires a degree of human oversight and adaptability, particularly in irregular or unexpected situations where experience and judgment are needed. Among the tasks most prone to automation in this occupation are signaling engineers to begin runs, adjust speeds, or stop trains, often achievable through telecommunications or hand signals. Coordination with engineers about routes, timetables, and alternative plans in response to rail defects or obstructions is increasingly manageable via integrated route-planning software and AI-driven logistics systems. Additionally, receiving and responding to information about train or rail problems from dispatchers or electronic monitoring devices can be largely automated, as sensor and diagnostic technologies improve and become more widespread within the rail industry. On the other hand, the most automation-resistant tasks involve a higher level of attention to detail, judgment, and human interaction. Inspecting freight cars for compliance with sealing procedures, and accurately recording car and seal numbers, demands precision and adaptability that current automated systems may struggle to achieve in complex or ambiguous situations. Documenting departure and arrival times, managing tickets and revenue, and keeping track of passenger accommodations require human oversight to ensure accuracy and handle exceptions. Supervising crew activities and coordinating services for passengers—including boarding, meal, and hospitality services—involves management, communication, and service skills that remain challenging to fully automate. The bottleneck skill of originality, which appears at relatively low levels (2.6% to 2.8%), underscores that while routine tasks are highly automatable, tasks that require innovative thinking or adaptability offer some resistance to full automation, helping retain a continuing—if diminished—need for human conductors and yardmasters.