Freight conductor vs road conductor

The differences between freight conductors and road conductors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a freight conductor has an average salary of $57,998, which is higher than the $56,582 average annual salary of a road conductor.

Freight conductor vs road conductor overview

	Freight Conductor	Road Conductor
Yearly salary	$57,998	$56,582
Hourly rate	$27.88	$27.20
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	6,636	14,401
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	High School Diploma, 45%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	-	-

Freight conductor vs road conductor salary

Freight conductors and road conductors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Freight Conductor	Road Conductor
Average salary	$57,998	$56,582
Salary range	Between $40,000 And $82,000	Between $39,000 And $80,000
Highest paying City	Springfield, MA	-
Highest paying state	Oregon	-
Best paying company	CSX	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between freight conductor and road conductor education

There are a few differences between a freight conductor and a road conductor in terms of educational background:

	Freight Conductor	Road Conductor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	High School Diploma, 45%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Freight conductor vs road conductor demographics

Here are the differences between freight conductors' and road conductors' demographics:

	Freight Conductor	Road Conductor
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 96.7% Female, 3.3%	Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 2.0% White, 71.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 1.9% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between freight conductor and road conductor duties and responsibilities

Freight conductor example responsibilities.

Provide excellent leadership by training new conductors in railroad rules and regulations, while simultaneously managing the train yard.
Instruct and assist train crews in coupling/uncoupling cars, operate switches, and implement minor repairs to rail cars.
Assist co-workers to couple and uncouple cars, throw track switches, or other activities involve in switching railroad cars.
Make sure train consist is correct within CSX system database.
Train and educate new employees about BNSF rules and policies.
Monitor corrosive and combustible materials, broad knowledge of all HAZMAT procedures.

Road conductor example responsibilities.

Perform hosteler operations of passenger cars and locomotives in switching areas.
Qualify on all NORAC rules and physical characteristics of the regional territory.

Freight conductor vs road conductor skills

Common freight conductor skills

Switches, 15%
FRA, 15%
Rail Cars, 14%
Federal Regulations, 8%
Hand Signals, 7%
CSX, 6%

Common road conductor skills

Freight Conductor vs. similar jobs

Freight Conductor related careers

Freight Conductor related jobs

What similar roles do

Conductor responsibilities

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Freight Conductor
Freight Conductor vs Road Conductor

Updated January 8, 2025

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