Freight Yard Manager Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Freight Yard Manager

Best Schools to become a Freight Yard Manager in U.S. 2024

Valencia College

Orlando, FL

In-State Tuition:$1,984
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,933
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:45%
Total Enrollment:43,370

American Public University System

Charles Town, WV

In-State Tuition:$6,840
Out-of-State Tuition:$6,840
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:55%
Total Enrollment:48,668

Fort Hays State University

Hays, KS

In-State Tuition:$4,140
Out-of-State Tuition:$14,580
Admission Rate:88%
Graduation Rate:51%
Total Enrollment:12,949

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, NH

In-State Tuition:$15,000
Out-of-State Tuition:$15,000
Admission Rate:96%
Graduation Rate:41%
Total Enrollment:164,091

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

In-State Tuition:$16,437
Out-of-State Tuition:$42,427
Admission Rate:88%
Graduation Rate:82%
Total Enrollment:50,023

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN

In-State Tuition:$11,332
Out-of-State Tuition:$29,522
Admission Rate:68%
Graduation Rate:73%
Total Enrollment:33,805
Freight Yard Manager Job Description:
  • Coordinate activities of switch-engine crew within railroad yard, industrial plant, or similar location.
  • Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight trains.
  • Yardmasters review train schedules and switching orders and coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains and yard switching.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Freight Yard Manager

Job Duties for Freight Yard Managers

  • Confer with engineers regarding train routes, timetables, and cargoes, and to discuss alternative routes when there are rail defects or obstructions.

  • Receive information regarding train or rail problems from dispatchers or from electronic monitoring devices.

  • Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.

Technologies and Skills Used by Freight Yard Managers

Industrial control software

  • RailComm DocYard
  • SAIC government services and IT support software

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Basic Skills

  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • Talking to others

People and Technology Systems

  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Freight Yard Manager

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Freight Yard Manager

FAQs About Becoming a Freight Yard Manager