Locomotive Engineer Resume: Examples & Tips
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A locomotive engineer — also known as a train engineer — is responsible for safely operating trains and transporting passengers or freights. Some of their essential duties include interpreting train orders and railroad rules, monitoring gauges and meters, documenting issues and diagnosing minor problems. Locomotive engineers should have physical strength, excellent customer service skills, hand-eye coordination and mechanical skills.
Get your locomotive engineer resume on track with these expert tips and resume examples.
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Locomotive engineer example (text version)
Name: RENEE DAVIDSON
Address: City, State, Zip Code
Phone: 000-000-0000
E-Mail: email@email.com
Professional Summary
Seasoned Locomotive Engineer with 12 years of experience. Successful at maintaining clean and organized cars with knowledge of manual and automatic rail switched. Dedicated to following schedules and preventative maintenance. Adept at completing long routes on time and paying attention to programs.
Summary of Qualifications
- Excellent comprehension of published rules, manuals and procedures, government regulations, and inspection checklists.
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills with all workmates and employees in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
Work History
Locomotive Engineer
02/2017 to Current
Company Name ,City,State
- Inspect locomotives before and after runs.
- Monitor gauges and meters to measure speed, amperage, battery charge, and air pressure in brake lines and main reservoirs.
- Confer with 25 conductors and traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue and receive information concerning stops, delays, and oncoming trains.
Train Operator Helper
01/2011 to 02/2017
Company Name ,City,State
- Worked closely with Locomotive Engineers to maintain optimum levels of communication to effectively and efficiently complete routes.
- Completed two to five minor preventative maintenance and mechanical repairs on equipment each week.
- Maintained records of train movements, daily logs, and train performance reports.
Railroad Track Laborer
11/2008 to 01/2011
Company Name ,City,State
- Repaired two miles of damaged track across different types of terrain in one day.
- Patrolled assigned track sections so damaged or broken tracks could be located and reported.
- Ground ends of new or worn rails to attain smooth joints using portable grinders.
Skills
- Two-way communication device use
- Refueling
- Automatic rail switches
- Electric freight locomotives
- Communication
- Department of Transportation Regulations
- Yard operations
- On-board inspections
- Valid New York’s Driving License
- Problem-solving
Education
High School Diploma
Company Name ,City,State
Certifications
Company Name License – 2016
Company Name Training – 2009
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Locomotive engineer resume FAQ
1. What are some hard and soft skills that should be included in a locomotive engineer resume?
| Technical skills: | Soft skills: |
| Train orders | Attention to detail |
| FRA | Courteous |
| Yard service | Time management |
| Applicable safety procedures | Relationship building |
| Train movement | Multitasking skills |
| Rail cars | Even-tempered |
| Freight trains | Reliability |
| Crew members | Problem-solving |
| Air pressure | Communication skills |
| Hand signals | Leadership |
| Hazmat | Stress tolerance |
| Safe operation | Highly decisive |
| Obstruction detecting | |
| Train signals | |
| Air brakes | |
| Safety rules | |
| Transport freight | |
| Supervision | |
| Defective equipment | |
| Track switches | |
| Diagnostic skills | |
| Mechanical skills | |
| Passenger trains | |
| Hazardous materials |
| Technical skills: |
| Train orders |
| FRA |
| Yard service |
| Applicable safety procedures |
| Train movement |
| Rail cars |
| Freight trains |
| Crew members |
| Air pressure |
| Hand signals |
| Leadership |
| Hazmat |
| Safe operation |
| Obstruction detecting |
| Train signals |
| Air brakes |
| Safety rules |
| Transport freight |
| Supervision |
| Defective equipment |
| Track switches |
| Diagnostic skills |
| Mechanical skills |
| Passenger trains |
| Hazardous materials |
| Soft skills: |
| Attention to detail |
| Courteous |
| Time management |
| Attention to detail |
| Relationship building |
| Multitasking skills |
| Even-tempered |
| Reliability |
| Problem-solving |
| Communication skills |
| Leadership |
| Stress tolerance |
| Highly decisive |
2. How should you format your resume?
Take note of the key responsibilities and requirements mentioned in the job posting. For example, “Respond to emergencies such as breakdowns by following applicable safety procedures and rules.” In this case, “applicable safety procedures” is a key phrase to keep in mind.
Write the keywords that apply to you in your resume’s skills section or work history to seem like the best candidate for the job.
Using key terms and phrases will also help your resume make it through the application tracking system (ATS) that many companies now use to filter out qualified candidates based on their resume content.
3. How should you include keywords in the resume?
Take note of the key responsibilities and requirements mentioned in the job posting. For example, “Respond to emergencies such as breakdowns by following applicable safety procedures and rules.” In this case, “applicable safety procedures” is a key phrase to keep in mind.
Write the keywords that apply to you in your resume’s skills section or work history to seem like the best candidate for the job.
Using key terms and phrases will also help your resume make it through the application tracking system (ATS) that many companies now use to filter out qualified candidates based on their resume content.
4. What is the difference between a locomotive engineer and a train conductor?
A locomotive engineer is responsible for operating a train and driving it from one destination to the next. In contrast, train conductors work on the ground assisting the locomotive engineers with their work-related needs.
The engineer monitors speed, air pressure, battery use and other instruments to ensure the train runs smoothly. A train conductor would oversee switching cars, lining switches, relaying information to the crew members for efficient operation and ensuring the train is in correct working order.
5. What common mistakes should be avoided when writing a resume?
- Never lie on your resume. Hiring managers will notice when something doesn’t add up.
- Don’t include skills and information that have nothing to do with the role you’ll be performing. Make sure only to write things that are relevant to that position and employer.
- There’s no need to include your references or the phrase “References available upon request.” This will take up valuable space and the recruiter or hiring manager will request your list of references when they’re ready to submit an offer.
- Avoid including your picture and any personal information, like your date of birth or religious beliefs.
Do’s and don’ts for your resume
- DO keep your resume short and to-the-point. Recruiters only spend a few seconds reading through a resume. It’s best to cut down the unimportant information and stick to the relevant skills and work experiences that best relate to the job you’re pursuing. Aim for a one-page resume with concise bullet points, and only have a two-page resume if you have more than 10 years of work experience.
- DO proofread your resume. Read over your document multiple times to make sure it’s free of grammatical, spelling and formatting errors — these mistakes can decrease your chances of getting an interview. Proofing your resume also gives you a chance to see if you have missed any important information or key skills. Our Resume Builder makes spell-checking easier for you with a tool that scans the document and shows any mistakes.
- DO tailor your resume to different job applications. Customize the information on your resume to each job based on the employer’s specific requirements. One locomotive engineer position, for example, might be looking for someone who interprets train orders and signals or works on accident reports, while another might want a candidate who focuses on monitoring gauges or conferring with traffic control personnel. In both cases, list skills and experiences that meet these requirements and showcase you have the experience and the aptitude for this job position.
- DON’T miss out on creating an elevator pitch. To get the recruiter’s attention, start your summary with an engaging opening statement. Sum up who you are within three to four lines, making a well-rounded paragraph that covers your most important work achievement and skills. For example, “Dedicated locomotive engineer with 5+ years of experience. Adept at operating steam and gas locomotives and maintaining rail-related equipment while managing the train yard.”
- DON’T forget to add quantifiable metrics to your achievements.Highlight your achievements using numbers and provable statistics to give the recruiter a clear insight into how you can push your potential. Turn a generic statement like, “Worked on Union Pacific railroads and repaired engines” into a more effective statement such as: “Operated on over 2,500 miles of Union Pacific railroads while repairing small engine parts on the course.”
- DON’T refer to yourself in first person.Using pronouns like “I,” “my” or “me” isn’t an accepted resume practice and hiring managers will see it as something unprofessional. Omit any personal pronouns from your resume and instead start your statements with strong action verbs or adjectives. So instead of writing, “I am a dependable locomotive engineer and I have over 3 years of experience,” you should write: “Dependable locomotive engineer with 3+ years of experience.”
Top 4 characteristics of a best-in-class locomotive engineer resume
Summary
In just a few sentences, talk about the top strengths and skills that make you an excellent candidate for the job. Use phrases and details that display both your abilities as well as top work achievements. For example, “Dependable locomotive engineer with expertise in coordinating and controlling train movement while adjusting to changing tasks in a fast-paced environment.”
Skills
Include a blend of hard and soft skills. A good rule of thumb is to consult the job posting for major requirements and add the abilities that apply to your skills section. Mention hard skills such as applicable safety procedures, diesel-electric locomotives and yard operations, and soft skills such as logical thinking, stress management and adaptability.
Work History
List the jobs you’ve had within the past 10 years and include work accomplishments relevant to the job instead of mundane, everyday activities. If possible, include quantifiable metrics to help make your achievements more impressive. For example, “Managed a team of 12 employees to ensure timely departures” or “Operated over 5 different locomotive engines, including electric and diesel-electric, as needed.”
Education
Include your highest education credential, whether it’s a high school diploma (or equivalent) or college degree, as well as any formal training programs you have completed. You can also enlist your certification with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), a must to be a locomotive engineer.
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Locomotive Engineer Resume Example
Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches. She is passionate about delivering information that empowers job seekers to achieve their professional goals.
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