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How exposed to AI is a Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostler?

Of the 25 tasks O*NET lists for rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers, 0 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 22 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
CarmanEngineerHostlerRail Yard EngineerRailcar SwitcherRailroad EngineerSwitchmanYard Engineer
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
25
tasks rated for this occupation
0%
hold a degree, from a survey of 27
4k
people do this job in the US
40 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.

Only with software built on top

3
  • Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors
  • Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty
  • Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed

Cannot be sped up

22
  • Observe and respond to wayside and cab signals, including color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors
  • Inspect engines before and after use to ensure proper operation
  • Apply and release hand brakes
  • Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones
  • Confer with conductors and other workers via radiotelephones or computers to exchange switching information
  • Inspect track for defects such as broken rails and switch malfunctions
  • Observe water levels and oil, air, and steam pressure gauges to ensure proper operation of equipment
  • Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars
  • Drive engines within railroad yards or other establishments to couple, uncouple, or switch railroad cars
  • Inspect the condition of stationary trains, rolling stock, and equipment
  • Receive, relay, and act upon instructions and inquiries from train operations and customer service center personnel
  • Spot cars for loading and unloading at customer locations
  • Operate track switches, derails, automatic switches, and retarders to change routing of train or cars
  • Perform routine repair and maintenance duties
  • Drive locomotives to and from various stations in roundhouses to have locomotives cleaned, serviced, repaired, or supplied
  • Pull knuckles to open them for coupling
  • Provide assistance in aligning drawbars, using available equipment to lift, pull, or push on the drawbars
  • Ride on moving cars by holding onto grab irons and standing on ladder steps
  • Operate switching diesel engines to switch railroad cars, using remote controls
  • Operate and control dinkey engines to transport and shunt cars at industrial or mine sites
  • Operate flatcars equipped with derricks or railcars to transport personnel or equipment
  • Provide assistance in the installation or repair of rails and ties
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.