Will “Track Man” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
89% Chance of Automation
“Track Man” will probably be replaced by robots.
This job is ranked #528 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.
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Job Description
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.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 47-4061.00
- The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 52,810.00
- The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 25.00
- Currently, there are 14,250 people on this job
☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators”.
Also Known As…
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
- Trackman
- Track Walker
- Track Supervisor
- Track Repairer
- Track Maintainer
- Track Laborer
- Track Inspector
- Track Equipment Operator (TEO)
- Rail Maintenance Worker
- Machine Operator
- Trackwalker
- Track Welder
- Track Surfacing Machine Operator
- Track Service Worker
- Track Service Person
- Track Repair Worker
- Track Repair Person
- Track Moving Machine Operator
- Track Mechanic
- Track Machine Operator Repairer
- Track Laying Machine Operator
- Track Laying Equipment Operator
- Track Layer
- Track Grinder Operator
- Track Dresser
- Stone Crusher Operator
- Slab Lifting Supervisor
- Section Laborer
- Section Hand
- Section Gang
- Railway Equipment Operator
- Railroad Track Mechanic
- Rail Track Maintainer
- Rail Track Layer
- Portable Grinding Machine Operator
- Operator
- Oil Distributor Tender
- Emergency Service Restorer
- Ballast Cleaning Machine Operator
Tasks for “Track Man”
- Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
- Spray ties, fishplates, or joints with oil to protect them from weathering.
- Turn wheels of machines, using lever controls, to adjust guidelines for track alignments or grades, following specifications.
- Dress and reshape worn or damaged railroad switch points or frogs, using portable power grinders.
- Paint railroad signs, such as speed limits or gate-crossing warnings.
- Clean, grade, or level ballast on railroad tracks.
- Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs.
- Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels.
- Clean tracks or clear ice or snow from tracks or switch boxes.
- String and attach wire-guidelines machine to rails so that tracks or rails can be aligned or leveled.
- Operate tie-adzing machines to cut ties and permit insertion of fishplates that hold rails.
- Drill holes through rails, tie plates, or fishplates for insertion of bolts or spikes, using power drills.
- Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws.
- Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
- Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks.
- Grind ends of new or worn rails to attain smooth joints, using portable grinders.
- Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement.
- Push controls to close grasping devices on track or rail sections so that they can be raised or moved.
- Operate track-wrench machines to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.
- Adjust controls of machines that spread, shape, raise, level, or align track, according to specifications.
- Drive graders, tamping machines, brooms, or ballast spreading machines to redistribute gravel or ballast between rails.
- Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.
- Clean or make minor repairs to machines or equipment.
- Drive vehicles that automatically move and lay tracks or rails over sections of track to be constructed, repaired, or maintained.
- Engage mechanisms that lay tracks or rails to specified gauges.
- Operate single- or multiple-head spike pullers to pull old spikes from ties.
Related Technology & Tools
- Air purifying respirators
- Jackhammers
- Hydraulic jacks
- Hard hats
- Shovels
- Gas-powered wrenches
- Rail saws
- Portable track loading fixtures
- Tracked bulldozers
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Pesticide sprayers
- Safety gloves
- Shielded arc welding tools
- Grading equipment
- Crowbars
- Backhoes
- Precision files
- Power grinders
- Picks
- Air-powered wrenches
- Safety glasses
- Vernier calipers
- Tamping machines
- Rail-mounted cranes
- Forklifts
- Rail profile grinders
- Hi-rail vehicles
- Rail drills
- Laptop computers
- Air drills
- Spike pullers
- Protective ear plugs
- Light pickup trucks
- Fall protection harnesses
- Handheld computers
- Grease guns
- Claw bars
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Rail benders
- Oxyacetylene torches
- Track-wrench machines
- Welders
- Power washers
- Pneumatic hammers
- Weed cutters
- Dollies
- Dump trucks
- Precision tape measures
- Rail tongs
- Track chisels
- Microsoft Excel
- Timekeeping software
- Data entry software