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Switchman skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical switchman skills. We ranked the top skills for switchmen based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 27.4% of switchman resumes contained switches as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a switchman needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 switchman skills for your resume and career

1. Switches

Here's how switchmen use switches:
  • Operated track switches and relayed radio, lantern and arm signals affecting the movement of trains.
  • Observe and monitor track conditions such as broken rails, defective switches and weather related problems.

2. Ladders

Here's how switchmen use ladders:
  • Climb and hang on ladders on side of cars and apply and release brakes
  • Claim ladders to tops of cars to set brakes, make minor repairs to couplings air hoses, using had tools.

3. 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 switchmen use rail cars:
  • Place and remove rail cars at various industries providing merchandise to prospective distribution centers/locations.
  • Planned and executed switching moves coordinated with dispatcher quickly, safely and repeatedly made precise adjustment in spotting of rail cars.

4. Air Hoses

Here's how switchmen use air hoses:
  • Inspected couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.
  • Climb on and off equipment, set or release hand brakes, couple air hoses between cars.

5. Locomotives

Here's how switchmen use locomotives:
  • Operated locomotives inside various plant facilities.
  • Operated locomotives by remote control.

6. Electrical Connections

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

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7. 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 switchmen use hand signals:
  • Observe, distinguish, and interpret radio and hand signals, track signals and signs.
  • Control movement of equipment by radio, hand signals and lantern.

8. FRA

Here's how switchmen use fra:
  • Completed safety training and followed all FRA safety regulations on a daily basis.
  • Educated on and complied with all FRA and GCOR rules.

9. Rail Yard

Here's how switchmen use rail yard:
  • Supervised all situations in the rail yard from Co-workers, to unsafe situations in the work environment.
  • Inspected rail yard equipment; reported defects or potential safety issues to supervisors for remediation.

10. Federal Safety Rules

Here's how switchmen use federal safety rules:
  • Complied with company and federal safety rules, policies and procedures to include responding to safety concerns and taking appropriate action.
  • Followed company and federal safety rules, policies, and procedures.

11. Safety Procedures

Safety procedures are a set of standardized procedures, that ensures minimal to no risk to people, resources, and the work environment. A company follows the step-by-step safety procedures as it they not only keep the customers and the employees safe, but also help in avoiding legal claims.

Here's how switchmen use safety procedures:
  • Followed all GCOR safety rules and regulations as well as all plant safety procedures.
  • Switch railcars in terminal to their designated tracks following safety procedures.

12. Track List

Here's how switchmen use track list:
  • Examine track list in order to determine tanker cars designated for storage, loading/unloading, shipping outbound and receiving inbound.
  • Examine track list in order to determine which cars are to be spotted, loaded, and/or shipped.

13. Train Cars

Here's how switchmen use train cars:
  • Develop train car placement plans based on analysis of car classifications, available personnel, locomotive capabilities, and federal guidelines.
  • Supervised 10-12 Union Pacific Employees on yard duty and 250+ train cars.

14. Tank Cars

Here's how switchmen use tank cars:
  • Switch Tank cars, Load & Offload tank cars with various gases, Understand & Perform Safety Guidelines and Procedures.
  • Remove and replace tank car dome caps, or direct other workers in their removal and replacement.

15. Switch Points

Here's how switchmen use switch points:
  • check switch points to make sureswitch is properly aligned.Make decisions about switching, spotting carsand making up the train.
  • Check switch points to make sure switch is properly aligned.
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List of switchman skills to add to your resume

Switchman skills

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

  • Switches
  • Ladders
  • Rail Cars
  • Air Hoses
  • Locomotives
  • Electrical Connections
  • Hand Signals
  • FRA
  • Rail Yard
  • Federal Safety Rules
  • Safety Procedures
  • Track List
  • Train Cars
  • Tank Cars
  • Switch Points
  • Train Crews
  • Hazmat
  • Radio Communications
  • Outbound Trains
  • Freight Cars
  • Radio Signals
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Safety Regulations
  • Train Movement
  • Safety Equipment
  • Communication Devices
  • Train Orders
  • Track Assignments
  • Bnsf
  • CSX
  • Service Tracks
  • Freight Trains
  • Precise Adjustments
  • Lanterns

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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