Lawmakers in the United States are reintroducing a bipartisan bill to provide rail yardmasters with federal workplace protections under existing hours-of-service rules. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Lawmakers in the United States are reintroducing a bipartisan bill to provide rail yardmasters with federal workplace protections under existing hours-of-service rules.

The Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act, proposed by Reps. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), seeks to classify rail yardmasters as safety-sensitive employees. That designation would bring them under federal rules that govern working hours for engineers, conductors, and other frontline rail staff.

Don’t miss…CRRC Unveils First Metro Train for Belo Horizonte

Rail Yardmasters Included in Federal Work-Hour Regulations

If passed, the legislation would limit yardmasters to 12-hour shifts and require a mandatory 10-hour rest period after duty. These restrictions already apply to several other railroad positions to reduce fatigue-related risks.

“Rail yardmasters are the traffic controllers of our railway system,” said Rep. Carbajal. “They guide complex movements and are essential for safe rail operations, so it’s time we treat them accordingly.”

The bill, originally introduced in 2019, passed the House in 2020 but did not move forward in the Senate. Lawmakers and unions believe renewed bipartisan support could help it pass both chambers this time.

Bill Gains Support from Lawmakers and Transportation Unions

SMART, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, endorsed the bill again. The group emphasized that yardmasters face the same high-stakes environment as other safety-sensitive rail roles.

Rep. Lawler highlighted that ignoring yardmasters in labor regulations creates inconsistencies in safety enforcement. “Fatigue leads to errors,” he said, “so protecting yardmasters protects the entire system.”

Rail safety remains a national priority following several high-profile incidents. Including rail yardmasters in federal rules reflects a broader push to modernize rail policy and ensure consistency across roles.

The bill now returns to committee review, where it will be evaluated in the coming weeks. With rising support from both sides of the aisle, supporters are hopeful that yardmasters will finally receive the protections they need.

Source: www.progressiverailroading.com

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner Celebrates Disneyland with New Railcar

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit