Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

People in this career often have these skills:

• Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

People in this career often know a lot about:

• Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

People in this career often have talent in:

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
• Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Response Orientation - The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Rate Control - The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.

People in this career often do these activities:

• Monitor traffic signals.
• Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment.
• Operate locomotives or other rail vehicles.
• Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
• Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.

• Measure the level or depth of water or other liquids.
• Connect hoses to equipment or machinery.
• Connect cables or electrical lines.
• Review work orders or schedules to determine operations or procedures.
• Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.
• Monitor vehicle movement or location.
• Control equipment that regulates vehicle traffic.
• Climb ladders or vehicles to perform duties.
• Maintain locomotives or other rail equipment in good working condition.
• Position material handling equipment.
• Record operational or production data.
• Record service or repair activities.

• Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

• Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

• Locomotive Engineers

• Highway Maintenance Workers

• Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

• Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

• Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

• Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas

• Helpers--Extraction Workers