Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 53-4013.00
Drive switching or other locomotive or dinkey engines within railroad yard, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.20
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 20 hidden tasks25 rated tasks · 5 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (20.0%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 2 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Confer with conductors and other workers via radiotelephones or computers to exchange switching information.O*NET Task ID 10665 | 1.0 |
Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors.O*NET Task ID 10671 | 1.0 |
Receive, relay, and act upon instructions and inquiries from train operations and customer service center personnel.O*NET Task ID 10678 | 1.0 |
Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty.O*NET Task ID 10680 | 1.0 |
Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.O*NET Task ID 10684 | 1.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (23)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Confer with conductors and other workers via radiotelephones or computers to exchange switching information. | Core |
| Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones. | Core |
| Observe and respond to wayside and cab signals, including color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors. | Core |
| Drive engines within railroad yards or other establishments to couple, uncouple, or switch railroad cars. | Core |
| Inspect engines before and after use to ensure proper operation. | Core |
| Apply and release hand brakes. | Core |
| Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors. | Core |
| Inspect the condition of stationary trains, rolling stock, and equipment. | Core |
| Observe water levels and oil, air, and steam pressure gauges to ensure proper operation of equipment. | Core |
| Spot cars for loading and unloading at customer locations. | Core |
| Inspect track for defects such as broken rails and switch malfunctions. | Core |
| Operate track switches, derails, automatic switches, and retarders to change routing of train or cars. | Core |
| Receive, relay, and act upon instructions and inquiries from train operations and customer service center personnel. | Core |
| Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars. | Core |
| Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty. | Core |
| Pull knuckles to open them for coupling. | Core |
| Provide assistance in aligning drawbars, using available equipment to lift, pull, or push on the drawbars. | Core |
| Drive locomotives to and from various stations in roundhouses to have locomotives cleaned, serviced, repaired, or supplied. | Core |
| Perform routine repair and maintenance duties. | Core |
| Ride on moving cars by holding onto grab irons and standing on ladder steps. | Supplemental |
| Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed. | Supplemental |
| Operate flatcars equipped with derricks or railcars to transport personnel or equipment. | Supplemental |
| Provide assistance in the installation or repair of rails and ties. | Supplemental |
1.09/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Observe and respond to wayside and cab signals, including color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors. | E2 structured facilities |
| Drive engines within railroad yards or other establishments to couple, uncouple, or switch railroad cars. | E2 structured facilities |
| Inspect engines before and after use to ensure proper operation. | E0 none |
| Apply and release hand brakes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect the condition of stationary trains, rolling stock, and equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Spot cars for loading and unloading at customer locations. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect track for defects such as broken rails and switch malfunctions. | E2 structured facilities |
| Operate track switches, derails, automatic switches, and retarders to change routing of train or cars. | E2 structured facilities |
| Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Pull knuckles to open them for coupling. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Provide assistance in aligning drawbars, using available equipment to lift, pull, or push on the drawbars. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Drive locomotives to and from various stations in roundhouses to have locomotives cleaned, serviced, repaired, or supplied. | E2 structured facilities |
| Perform routine repair and maintenance duties. | E0 none |
| Ride on moving cars by holding onto grab irons and standing on ladder steps. | E0 none |
| Operate flatcars equipped with derricks or railcars to transport personnel or equipment. | E2 structured facilities |
| Provide assistance in the installation or repair of rails and ties. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 4K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 4K
- Change (2025–35)
- +0.8%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $60,600
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87119 | 그 외 철도 및 전동차 기관사 | This occupation is narrower | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 8311Locomotive Engine Drivers
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Locomotive engine drivers drive, or assist in driving, locomotive engines to transport passengers and freight.
Tasks
- (a) driving or assisting in driving a steam, electric or diesel-electric locomotive engine;
- (b) driving an underground or elevated passenger train;
- (c) driving a locomotive to haul carriages underground or on the surface of a mine or quarry;
- (d) watching for track hazards, observing signals and indicator gauges;
- (e) operating communications systems to communicate with train crews and traffic controllers to ensure safe operation and scheduling of trains.
Example occupations
Locomotive driver · Metropolitan railway driver · Train driver
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- shunterESCO 8312.3Same scope
Shunters move shunting units with or without wagons or groups of wagons in order to build trains. They manage the driving of locomotives and are involved in switching wagons, making or splitting up trains in shunting yards or sidings. They operate according to the technical features, such as controlling movement via a remote control device.
- rail maintenance technicianESCO 3112.1.10Overlapping, not the same
Rail maintenance technicians execute routine inspections of railway tracks, powerlines, signage stations, switches, and other railway infrastructure. They are also sent out to repair defects quickly, safely, and at any time of the day or night.
- rail switchpersonESCO 8312.2Overlapping, not the same
Rail switchpersons assist in the tasks of the traffic controller. They operate switches and signals according to rail traffic control instructions, according to regulations and compliant with safety rules.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| N4303 | Conducteur / Conductrice d'engins de manœuvre du réseau ferré | Same scopeprovisional |
| N4301 | Conducteur / Conductrice de train | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| N4403 | Opérateur / Opératrice ferroviaire | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 8311 | Maquinistas de locomotoras | This occupation is narrower |
| 8312 | Agentes de maniobras ferroviarias | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 52202 | Triebfahrzeugführer/innen im Eisenbahnverkehr (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 609 | その他の鉄道運転従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 632 | 鉄道輸送関連業務従事者 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources