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Trainman skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

1 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical trainman skills. We ranked the top skills for trainmen based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 35.6% of trainman resumes contained rail cars as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a trainman needs to be successful in the workplace.

12 trainman skills for your resume and career

1. 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 trainmen use rail cars:

Planned, prioritized and organized the switching of more than 100 rail cars per shift, while building trains for transportation.
Job responsibilities include switching rail cars, building trains, conducting trains to and from various locations.

2. Switches

Here's how trainmen use switches:

Follow all safety calls and procedures including calling ahead for verifying track switches and constant communication with engineer during coupling process.
Inspect railroad equipment, (such as tracks, signals, switches and cars) for defects before and during movement.

3. Safety Rules

Principles or regulations that ensure the protection of people, objects, or the environment are called safety rules. These rules can be governing actions, devices, or procedures that help in minimizing the risks of loss, injury, or damage.

Here's how trainmen use safety rules:

Comply with Federal and Company Safety Rules
Work with crew to ensure all DOD safety rules.

4. Train Cars

Here's how trainmen use train cars:

Develop train car placement plans based on analysis of car classifications, available personnel, locomotive capabilities, and federal guidelines.
Informed supervisors about location of train cars verbally and through company specific computer programs.

5. Equipment Inspections

Here's how trainmen use equipment inspections:

Performed mandated FRA brake tests and equipment inspections.
Conduct train and equipment inspections.

6. Locomotives

Here's how trainmen use locomotives:

Performed hostler operations of operating locomotives between various shop locations, service tracks and switching areas.
Facilitated maintenance and timely repairs of damaged pipe lines/gaskets on locomotives and rail cars.

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7. FRA

Here's how trainmen use fra:

Studied extensively to pass various field tests; consistently passing regular FRA facilitated exams annually.
Maintained positive relationships with external partners through an understanding of FRA regulations.

8. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how trainmen use customer service:

Provide outstanding customer service by ensuring products delivered in timely manner.

9. Freight Cars

Here's how trainmen use freight cars:

Train operations including separating into designed track location of freight cars.
Test air brake system on freight cars to insure the brakes are working properly on all cars before movement of train.

10. Train Operations

Here's how trainmen use train operations:

Directed and coordinated train operations with Engineer and Assistant Conductor.
Train ConductorCommute South Bend to Chicago DailyCustomer Service Train Operations

11. Radio Communications

Here's how trainmen use radio communications:

Control locomotive switching movements with radio communications while also communicating with yardmasters and other switching crews.
Communicated with dispatch via radio communications for all train movements and information related to safety requirements.

12. Safety Regulations

Here's how trainmen use safety regulations:

Follow all safety regulations in compliance with the federal railroad administration.
Identify and properly place hazardous material cars per safety regulations.

What skills help Trainmen find jobs?

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List of trainman skills to add to your resume

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

Rail Cars
Switches
Safety Rules
Train Cars

Equipment Inspections
Locomotives
FRA
Customer Service

Freight Cars
Train Operations
Radio Communications
Safety Regulations

Updated January 8, 2025

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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