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How exposed to AI is a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firer?

Of the 28 tasks O*NET lists for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers, 0 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 25 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
BrakemanCarmanFiremanLocomotive Switch OperatorRailroad BrakemanRailroad SwitchmanTerminal CarmanTrainman
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
28
tasks rated for this occupation
16k
people do this job in the US
42 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
  • Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes
  • Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed
  • Answer questions from passengers concerning train rules, stations, and timetable information

Cannot be sped up

25
  • Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers
  • Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication
  • Pull or push track switches to reroute cars
  • Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated
  • Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly
  • Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks
  • Operate locomotives in emergency situations
  • Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains
  • Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes
  • Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched
  • Inspect locomotives to detect damaged or worn parts
  • Signal other workers to set brakes and to throw track switches when switching cars from trains to way stations
  • Check to see that trains are equipped with supplies such as fuel, water, and sand
  • Monitor oil, temperature, and pressure gauges on dashboards to determine if engines are operating safely and efficiently
  • Set flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains
  • Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary
  • Start diesel engines to warm engines before runs
  • Make minor repairs to couplings, air hoses, and journal boxes, using hand tools
  • Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches
  • Operate and drive locomotives, diesel switch engines, dinkey engines, flatcars, and railcars in train yards and at industrial sites
  • Refuel and lubricate engines
  • Ride atop cars that have been shunted, and turn handwheels to control speeds or stop cars at specified positions
  • Adjust controls to regulate air-conditioning, heating, and lighting on trains for comfort of passengers
  • Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting trains
  • Conduct brake tests to determine the condition of brakes on trains
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.