Rail-Track Laying & Maintenance Equipment Operators

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Job Outlook:
None
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Salary
High: $84,460.00
Average: $63,840.00
Hourly
Average: $30.69

What they do:

Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.

On the job, you would:

  • Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
  • Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
  • Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs.

Personality

A3 Your Strengths Importance

Characteristics of this Career

78% Dependability  -  Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
71% Concern for Others  -  Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
71% Cooperation  -  Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
71% Attention to Detail  -  Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
70% Integrity  -  Job requires being honest and ethical.
65% Adaptability/Flexibility  -  Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
A3 Your Strengths Importance

Strengths

100% Realistic  -  Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
A3 Your Strengths Importance

Values of the Work Environment

61% Support  -  Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Aptitude

A3 Your Strengths Importance

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

72% Control Precision  -  The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
69% Manual Dexterity  -  The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
69% Multilimb Coordination  -  The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
66% Arm-Hand Steadiness  -  The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
66% Problem Sensitivity  -  The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
66% Reaction Time  -  The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
66% Far Vision  -  The ability to see details at a distance.

Job Details

Responsibilities
Locate equipment or materials in need of repair or replacement.
Clean equipment or facilities.
Maintain mechanical equipment.
Maintain construction tools or equipment.
Maintain mechanical equipment.
Cut metal components for installation.
Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
Drill holes in construction materials.
Smooth surfaces with abrasive materials or tools.
Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
Verify alignment of structures or equipment.
Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
Clean equipment or facilities.
Maintain construction tools or equipment.
Spread sand, dirt or other loose materials onto surfaces.
Compact materials to create level bases.
Spread sand, dirt or other loose materials onto surfaces.
Compact materials to create level bases.
Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
Apply sealants or other protective coatings.
Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
Cut wood components for installation.
Apply paint to surfaces.
Weld metal components.
A3 Your Strengths Importance

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

100% Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets  -  How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
99% Outdoors, Exposed to Weather  -  How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
97% Face-to-Face Discussions  -  How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
95% Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable  -  How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
89% Contact With Others  -  How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
85% Telephone  -  How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
85% Responsible for Others' Health and Safety  -  How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
85% Physical Proximity  -  To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
85% Very Hot or Cold Temperatures  -  How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
84% Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls  -  How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
84% Work With Work Group or Team  -  How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
83% Exposed to Hazardous Equipment  -  How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
78% In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment  -  How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
77% Structured versus Unstructured Work  -  To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
76% Coordinate or Lead Others  -  How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
75% Responsibility for Outcomes and Results  -  How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
75% Freedom to Make Decisions  -  How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
74% Exposed to Contaminants  -  How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
74% Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting  -  How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
73% Importance of Being Exact or Accurate  -  How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
73% Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions  -  How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
73% Time Pressure  -  How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
72% Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings  -  How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
71% Consequence of Error  -  How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
70% Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results  -  What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
70% Spend Time Standing  -  How much does this job require standing?
69% Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body  -  How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
68% Exposed to Whole Body Vibration  -  How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (e.g., operate a jackhammer)?
66% Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment  -  How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
73% Duration of Typical Work Week  -  Number of hours typically worked in one week.
A3 Your Strengths Importance

Tasks & Values

91% Getting Information  -  Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
87% Making Decisions and Solving Problems  -  Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
87% Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment  -  Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
86% Handling and Moving Objects  -  Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
85% Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials  -  Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
83% Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events  -  Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
82% Performing General Physical Activities  -  Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
81% Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates  -  Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
76% Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards  -  Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
75% Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge  -  Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
75% Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings  -  Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
74% Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work  -  Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
73% Controlling Machines and Processes  -  Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
71% Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment  -  Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
70% Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information  -  Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
69% Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others  -  Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Getting Started

Education:
90%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
10%
Less than a High School Diploma

Information provided by CareerFitter, LLC and other sources.

Sections of this page includes information from the O*NET 27.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

CareerFitter, LLC has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.