Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

People in this career often have these skills:

• Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• 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.

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:

• Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
• 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.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• 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.

• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
• Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
• Auditory Attention - The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.

People in this career often do these activities:

• Monitor traffic signals.
• Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
• Operate locomotives or other rail vehicles.
• Control equipment that regulates vehicle traffic.
• Observe equipment in operation to detect potential problems.

• Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment.
• Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
• Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.
• Climb ladders or vehicles to perform duties.
• Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.
• Monitor availability of equipment or supplies.
• Maintain locomotives or other rail equipment in good working condition.
• Monitor engine operation or functioning.
• Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
• Arrange maintenance activities.
• Assist customers to ensure comfort or safety.
• Record operational or production data.
• Record service or repair activities.
• Assist passengers during vehicle boarding.
• Connect hoses to equipment or machinery.
• Provide transportation information to passengers or customers.

• Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

• Locomotive Engineers

• Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

• Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas

• Subway and Streetcar Operators

• Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

• Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

• Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

• Helpers--Extraction Workers

• Highway Maintenance Workers