Supply Chain & Transportation

Railroad Conductor/Yardmaster

job outlook graphic

JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What To Learn

High School

Suggested Steps to Prepare for a Railroad Conductor/Yardmaster Career (Grades 6-12)

Check out the recommended classes, activities and skills below for each grade level. These recommendations are very general -- discuss your specific course plan with your school counselors and teachers.

AI-assisted and curriculum-reviewed guidance. Talk with your counselor or teacher about your specific plan.
Grades 6-8

Helpful Classes

  • Math
  • Technology
  • Science
  • Communication

Things to Try

  • Track routes, maps, schedules, or checklists during a transportation-themed activity, Learn how safety checks, communication, and timing keep people or goods moving, Compare different vehicles or transport systems and explain what each is best for, Interview a railroad conductor/yardmaster about safety, procedures, and coordination

Focus Skills

  • Attention
  • Coordination
  • Procedure-following
  • Communication
  • Safety awareness

Helpful Classes

  • Transportation Technology
  • Algebra I
  • English
  • Physical Science
  • Computer Applications

Recommended Learning Areas

  • vehicle or route basics
  • maps
  • safety checks
  • communication
  • schedules

Things to Try

  • Practice reading maps, route plans, or schedules and checking for delays or conflicts, Observe how drivers, dispatchers, or pilots use logs, signals, and safety checks, Create a mock delivery, bus, or travel plan with times, stops, and backup options, Shadow a railroad conductor/yardmaster or transportation worker to see how trips are documented

Focus Skills

  • Attention
  • Coordination
  • Procedure-following
  • Communication
  • Safety awareness

Helpful Classes

  • Automotive or Aviation Basics
  • Geometry
  • English
  • Safety
  • Logistics

Recommended Learning Areas

  • transport systems
  • regulations
  • mechanical basics
  • route planning
  • customer service

Things to Try

  • Track a route, load plan, or dispatch scenario and explain how you would improve it, Practice pre-trip checks, communication steps, and problem-solving during delays, Compare how ground, rail, air, or delivery systems handle timing and safety, Use logs or records to monitor fuel, mileage, travel time, or service issues

Focus Skills

  • Attention
  • Coordination
  • Procedure-following
  • Communication
  • Safety awareness

Helpful Classes

  • Transportation Systems
  • Physics
  • Technical Writing
  • Geography
  • Logistics

Recommended Learning Areas

  • dispatch and routing
  • logs and records
  • safety procedures
  • equipment checks
  • geography

Things to Try

  • Complete a transportation project tied to routing, dispatch, safety, or equipment checks, Practice using schedules, maps, or digital tools to plan efficient movement, Observe how regulations, weather, and maintenance affect transportation work, Interview professionals about coordination, customer service, and safe operations

Focus Skills

  • Attention
  • Coordination
  • Procedure-following
  • Communication
  • Safety awareness

Helpful Classes

  • Transportation Systems
  • Safety
  • Technical Writing
  • Logistics
  • Mechanics

Recommended Learning Areas

  • operations planning
  • regulatory compliance
  • maintenance awareness
  • documentation
  • safe transport

Things to Try

  • Build a portfolio with route plans, safety logs, schedules, and operations notes, Complete a capstone tied to transportation systems, dispatch, or travel operations, Compare pathways in driving, aviation, rail, dispatch, and logistics support, Practice documentation, communication, and decision-making under time pressure

Focus Skills

  • Attention
  • Coordination
  • Procedure-following
  • Communication
  • Safety awareness

Beyond High School

Here's a list of programs that you should consider if you're interested in this career:

Education Level

Education training and experience are required at different levels for success in different occupations.

High school (GED), plus on-the-job training

Rail companies typically require workers to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. However, employers may prefer to hire workers who have postsecondary education, such as coursework, a certificate, or an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Most railroad companies have up to 12 months of on-the-job training for conductors and yardmasters.

Insider Info

Education

dotMost yardmasters have little more than a high school education, but they have several years of experience on the railroad. Some colleges and universities offer courses in transportation studies, management and engineering. But most training is given on the job.

College education is considered an asset in the U.S. market.

Ella Rayburn is the curator of the Steamtown National Historic Site, a museum of steam-engine locomotives. She agrees that schooling helps one secure a spot in the field. "I would think a college degree in something like civil engineering would be helpful, but it certainly isn't necessary," she says.

Yardmaster David Belcher went to a junior college for business and personnel management and found the training invaluable to his yardmaster career today.

"It gives you a basic understanding of dealing with people," he says. "That's what this job is all about -- working with people and getting people to work with you."

Extra Requirements

Locomotive engineers and conductors must be certified by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The certifications, conducted by the railroad that employs them, involve a written knowledge test, a skills test, and a supervisor determination that the engineer or conductor understands all physical aspects of the particular route on which he or she will be operating. Engineers who change routes must be recertified for the new route. Even engineers and conductors who do not switch routes must be recertified every few years.

For additional information, visit these websites: