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Railroad conductor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical railroad conductor skills. We ranked the top skills for railroad conductors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 15.8% of railroad conductor resumes contained switches as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a railroad conductor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 railroad conductor skills for your resume and career

1. Switches

Here's how railroad conductors use switches:
  • Trained crews to switch tracks and couple and uncouple cars Activated traffic signals and track switches.
  • Used hand and electric switches.

2. Rail Cars

Rail Cars, also called railroad cars, are large containers set on a railway and pulled by a locomotive. Rail cars are frequently used for shipping large quantities of product or material, such as metal, chemicals, or livestock; however, a rail car may also transport people such as a subway system. A locomotive often pulls numerous cars that attach to each other, which then form a train.

Here's how railroad conductors use rail cars:
  • Shuttle wagon Engineers operate a shuttle wagon to shift rail cars as needed within the terminal safely at restricted speed.
  • Engage air brake test on rail cars for proper and safe detachment from the train.

3. FRA

Here's how railroad conductors use fra:
  • Performed routine PMCS checks of Diesel/Electric Engines, insuring that all FRA regulations are met.
  • Interpret train orders, electronic or manual signals, and railroad rules and FRA Regulations.

4. Air Brakes

Here's how railroad conductors use air brakes:
  • air brakes, couplers, safety appliances, and wheels allow for safe movement.

5. Locomotives

Here's how railroad conductors use locomotives:
  • Inspected locomotives after runs to detect damaged and defective equipment.
  • Operate General Electric locomotives trans loading various materials.

6. Hand Signals

Hand signals are signs made using the hands to indicate or communicate certain instructions to anyone when audio communication won't be possible. Hand signals are used to flag down cabs, gesture at people from a distance, teach the deaf, and wave at someone. All these are in cases where voicing out the instructions won't be audible on the end of the receiver.

Here's how railroad conductors use hand signals:
  • Demonstrated a complete knowledge of signals for train movement including hand signals within yard switching operations and signals governing mainline movement.
  • Signaled engineers to begin train runs, stopped trains, or changed speeds, using telecommunications equipment and hand signals.

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7. Radio Communications

Here's how railroad conductors use radio communications:
  • radio communication with Engineer for the proper movement of train, and following directions from supervising dispatcher, or manager.
  • Control locomotive switching movements with radio communications while also communicating with yardmasters and other switching crews.

8. Electrical Connections

Here's how railroad conductors use electrical connections:
  • Couple air and electrical connections between locomotives.
  • Couple air and electrical connections between locomotives, tie manual hand breaks when needed.

9. Federal Safety Rules

Here's how railroad conductors use federal safety rules:
  • Comply with company and federal safety rules, policies and procedures to include responding to safety concerns and taking appropriate action.
  • Complied with company and federal safety rules for proper procedures on handling and shipping freight cars.

10. Train Movement

Here's how railroad conductors use train movement:
  • Communicate with manager and other employees to ensure safe and efficient work was done during train movement.
  • Perform equipment checks, ensuring proper train movement for safe and timely customer deliveries.

11. Track Switches

Here's how railroad conductors use track switches:
  • Ride cars to inspect track, couple and uncouple cars, and throw track switches.

12. Conductors

Here's how railroad conductors use conductors:
  • Collaborated with dispatch and freight conductors and followed orders, signals and regulations for train operation of multi-modal freight Transportation Company.
  • Railroad signal recognition and interpretation.Completion of conductors log book.

13. Hazardous Materials

Any substance or good that is harmful to human health as well as the environment are called hazardous materials. Such materials must be handled carefully to avoid any mishaps. Harmful gases. chemicals, strong medicines or drugs, radioactive elements required for radiation purposes, a human blood sample that carries germs, all of these are considered hazardous materials.

Here's how railroad conductors use hazardous materials:
  • General understanding of MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) to properly handle various hazardous materials.
  • Guide safe movement and placement of crucial or hazardous materials.

14. Air Hoses

Here's how railroad conductors use air hoses:
  • Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.
  • Inspected couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.

15. Yard Operations

Here's how railroad conductors use yard operations:
  • Maintained yard operations, communicating with dispatchers to move multiple trains in, out and through the yard.
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List of railroad conductor skills to add to your resume

Railroad conductor skills

The most important skills for a railroad conductor resume and required skills for a railroad conductor to have include:

  • Switches
  • Rail Cars
  • FRA
  • Air Brakes
  • Locomotives
  • Hand Signals
  • Radio Communications
  • Electrical Connections
  • Federal Safety Rules
  • Train Movement
  • Track Switches
  • Conductors
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Air Hoses
  • Yard Operations
  • Freight Cars
  • Traffic Signals
  • Train Cars
  • Outbound Traffic
  • Safety Procedures
  • Safety Equipment
  • CSX
  • Freight Trains
  • Rail Yard
  • Safety Guidelines
  • Communication Devices
  • Federal Regulations
  • Safety Inspections
  • Air Test

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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