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How exposed to AI is a Locomotive Engineer?

Of the 15 tasks O*NET lists for locomotive engineers, 1 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 9 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Locomotive EngineerPassenger Locomotive EngineerRailroad EngineerThrough Freight EngineerTrain EngineerTrainmasterTransportation Specialist
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
15
tasks rated for this occupation
0%
hold a degree, from a survey of 21
39k
people do this job in the US
13 of 52
least protected in transport

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

1
  • Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives

Only with software built on top

5
  • Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains
  • Observe tracks to detect obstructions
  • Check to ensure that brake examination tests are conducted at shunting stations
  • Prepare reports regarding any problems encountered, such as accidents, signaling problems, unscheduled stops, or delays
  • Monitor train loading procedures to ensure that freight or rolling stock are loaded or unloaded without damage

Cannot be sped up

9
  • Receive starting signals from conductors and use controls such as throttles or air brakes to drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas turbine-electric locomotives
  • Monitor gauges or meters that measure speed, amperage, battery charge, or air pressure in brake lines or in main reservoirs
  • Call out train signals to assistants to verify meanings
  • Operate locomotives to transport freight or passengers between stations or to assemble or disassemble trains within rail yards
  • Respond to emergency conditions or breakdowns, following applicable safety procedures and rules
  • Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems
  • Inspect locomotives after runs to detect damaged or defective equipment
  • Check to ensure that documentation, such as procedure manuals or logbooks, are in the driver's cab and available for staff use
  • Drive diesel-electric rail-detector cars to transport rail-flaw-detecting machines over tracks
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.