Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

Transportation, Distribution and LogisticsO*NET 53-4013.00United States

Drive switching or other locomotive or dinkey engines within railroad yard, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $60,611
Projected change: +4.1%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 4.41K jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

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.
Confer with conductors and other workers via radiotelephones or computers to exchange switching information.
Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones.
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.
Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors.
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.
Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty.
Drive locomotives to and from various stations in roundhouses to have locomotives cleaned, serviced, repaired, or supplied.
Perform routine repair and maintenance duties.
Pull knuckles to open them for coupling.
Provide assistance in aligning drawbars, using available equipment to lift, pull, or push on the drawbars.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $44,533
25th percentile: $52,770
50th percentile: $60,611
75th percentile: $80,350
90th percentile: $100,277

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $60,611 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+4.1%average or slower

20254,408 jobs

2035 projected4,589 jobs

181 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 86.7%
Certificate: 13.4%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Loading And Unloading
Warehousing
Pre-Trip And Post-Trip Vehicle Inspections
Forklift Truck
Good Driving Record
Lifting Ability
Equipment Inspection
Sanitation
Truck Driving
Freight Handling
Dry Van Truck Operation
Safety Standards
Palletizing
No-Touch Freight
Staging Area
Vehicle Inspection
Shipping And Receiving
Commercial Driving
Flatbed Truck Operation
Pallet Jacks

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
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.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Yard Hostlers609 postings
02Yard Jockeys20 postings
03Shuttle Drivers10 postings
04Hostlers5 postings
05CDL-A Yard Switchers4 postings
06CDL-A Dry Van Truck Drivers3 postings
07CDL-B Truck Drivers3 postings
08Yard People3 postings
09Front End Loader Operators2 postings
10Local CDL-A Truck Drivers2 postings
11Local Delivery Drivers2 postings
12Local Truck Drivers2 postings
13Yard Switchers2 postings
14CDL-A Truck Drivers1 postings
15DOT Shuttle Drivers1 postings
16Warehouse/Yard Associates1 postings
17Yard Drivers1 postings

Top employers

01Centerline39 postings
02Staffmark34 postings
03Waste Management30 postings
04Bah Express27 postings
05AAA Cooper Transportation25 postings
06Transportation Concepts18 postings
07Core-Mark International17 postings
08Centerline Drivers16 postings
09Tesla16 postings
10Stericycle12 postings
11Ponce Ground Service11 postings
12Southern Glazer's11 postings
13Universal Logistics Holdings11 postings
14CRST International10 postings
15Daylight Transport10 postings
16Knight Transportation10 postings
17Ffe Transportation Services9 postings
18Primeflight Aviation Services9 postings
19Fastrack Solutions8 postings
20Red Bull8 postings

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