Will railroad brakemen be replaced by AI?
Updated
Railroad brakemen score 12 of 100 for AI exposure. 90% of their task time still needs a person. AI can do 2% today and speed up another 8%.
- 2% AI can do it
- 8% AI helps
- 90% Needs a person
Low exposure
Lower than 93% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 26 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 1 of them today, speeds up 2 and leaves 23 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed. Logging car counts and service needs is routine data recording. | 60% AI can do it |
| Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched. AI could parse switch lists and written instructions. | 35% AI helps |
| Monitor oil, temperature, and pressure gauges on dashboards to determine if engines are operating safely and efficiently. Software could flag gauge readings, but worker still watches. | 25% AI helps |
| Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary. Physical defect inspection; reporting part could be assisted. | 18% Needs a person |
| Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers. Visual check of wayside signals is physical and in person. | 15% Needs a person |
| Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication. Hand signals and lantern work need the worker on site. | 12% Needs a person |
| Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes. Trackside visual watch for dragging gear and hot boxes. | 10% Needs a person |
| Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated. Reading crew hand signals requires being present on site. | 8% Needs a person |
| Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks. Visual track watch from the locomotive side. | 8% Needs a person |
| Check to see that trains are equipped with supplies such as fuel, water, and sand. Physical checks of fuel, water, and sand supplies. | 8% Needs a person |
Show the other 16 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Conduct brake tests to determine the condition of brakes on trains. Brake tests need physical air checks on the train. | 8% Needs a person |
| Inspect locomotives to detect damaged or worn parts. Physical inspection of locomotive parts for wear. | 6% Needs a person |
| Signal other workers to set brakes and to throw track switches when switching cars from trains to way stations. Hand signals to crew for brakes and switches. | 6% Needs a person |
| Operate locomotives in emergency situations. Emergency locomotive operation needs hands on controls. | 5% Needs a person |
| Start diesel engines to warm engines before runs. Starting engines is hands-on equipment operation. | 5% Needs a person |
| Operate and drive locomotives, diesel switch engines, dinkey engines, flatcars, and railcars in train yards and at industrial sites. Driving locomotives in yards is hands-on operation. | 5% Needs a person |
| Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly. Hands-on physical inspection of couplings and hoses. | 4% Needs a person |
| Set flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains. Placing flares and flags on the track during emergencies. | 4% Needs a person |
| Pull or push track switches to reroute cars. Physically throwing switches on the track. | 3% Needs a person |
| Make minor repairs to couplings, air hoses, and journal boxes, using hand tools. Hand-tool repairs to couplings and hoses on equipment. | 3% Needs a person |
| Refuel and lubricate engines. Physical refueling and lubrication of engines. | 3% Needs a person |
| Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting trains. Helping passengers board and exit is in-person physical care. | 3% Needs a person |
| Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains. Physically lifting levers to couple and uncouple cars. | 2% Needs a person |
| Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes. Climbing car ladders to set brakes is physical work. | 2% Needs a person |
| Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches. Physically wrenching air hoses onto cars. | 2% Needs a person |
| Ride atop cars that have been shunted, and turn handwheels to control speeds or stop cars at specified positions. Riding cars and turning handwheels is physical work. | 2% Needs a person |
How railroad brakemen compare
All occupations (923)
Transportation and material moving (52)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $68,840 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 12,400 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +0.8% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Operate Electronic train management system software for yard moves
- Check car counts and service needs in Microsoft Excel
- Plot yard routes in route mapping software
- Throw track switches and couple cars manually
- Make minor coupling and air hose repairs with hand tools
Safer roles nearby
A related occupation with a lower score.
Questions about railroad brakemen and AI
Will AI replace railroad brakemen?
Partly. About 1 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly logging car counts and service needs plus reading yard switch lists. Coupling cars, setting brakes, and throwing switches stay with people because they need a person on the ground.
Which railroad brakeman tasks is AI taking over?
Record keeping goes first. Logging car counts and service needs scores 60 on exposure because it is routine data recording. Parsing yardmaster instructions and switch lists scores 35, and software can flag gauge readings, though a worker still watches the dashboard.
Which railroad brakeman tasks stay human?
Physical yard work stays human. Raising coupling levers, setting brakes from car ladders, and connecting air hoses each score 2 on exposure because they need a worker physically on the cars. Watching for signals scores 15 since a person must check them in person.
How can railroad brakemen stay valuable?
Start with the software that already runs the yard. Learn Electronic train management system software well enough to check AI-generated car movements against what you see on the ground. Keep car counts and switch records in Microsoft Excel so you can catch errors, and stay skilled at coupling, hand brake setting, and hose repair.
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