Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Rail Car Repairer
What rail car repairers actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a rail car repairer?
Get assignments at the shop. From there, the day usually includes inspect rail cars, repair brakes and couplers, and replace wheels and bearings. Full time, with shifts covering nights, weekends and holidays.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a rail car repairer working full time.
- Get assignments at the shop.
- Inspect cars in the yard.
- Replace a brake shoe.
- Weld a damaged ladder.
- Change a wheelset.
- Run an air brake test.
- Record defects and repairs.
Where rail car repairers work
Repairers work in rail yards and repair shops, often outdoors.
Hours and schedule
Full time, with shifts covering nights, weekends and holidays.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Inspect rail cars
- Repair brakes and couplers
- Replace wheels and bearings
- Weld and fabricate parts
- Test air brakes
- Repair car bodies
- Document FRA inspections
Tools you’ll use every day
- Welders
- Torches
- Jacks
- Air brake test devices
- Impact wrenches
- Wheel gauges
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Union pay and benefits
- No degree needed
- Steady freight demand
- Variety of repairs
What’s hard
- Outdoor work in all weather
- Heavy parts
- Shift work
- Yard hazards
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I like heavy equipment
- I can weld
- I don’t mind weather
- I can work shifts
- I care about safety
- I want union pay
Not sure? Take the free Rail Car Repairer fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Use blue flag protection
- Wear PPE
- Never step between moving cars
- Follow lockout rules