Press Releases

U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) reintroduced their bipartisan Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act. The legislation would strengthen workplace protections for railroad yardmasters by giving them the same protections as other railroad yard workers. Yardmasters are the traffic controllers of our country’s rail yards and terminals. 

“Yardmasters are the traffic controllers of our country’s railroad network. Like their counterparts in aviation, they play a vital role in ensuring the safety of everyone traveling by train,” said Rep. Carbajal. “My bipartisan legislation will improve working conditions and support the professionals who keep America’s railroads running safely and efficiently.” 

“I’m proud to join Rep. Carbajal in reintroducing the Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act, a commonsense, bipartisan bill that closes a long-overdue gap in rail safety policy. Yardmasters are essential to the safe and smooth operation of our freight rail system, and it’s only right that they receive the same duty hour protections as other rail employees. This legislation is about protecting workers, improving safety, and ensuring our rail network continues to serve communities and commerce across the country effectively,” said Rep. Lawler.

"SMART-TD applauds Congressman Salud Carbajal and Congressman Mike Lawler for their steadfast leadership in introducing the Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act. For far too long, our Yardmaster members have been left without the basic protections afforded to other safety-sensitive rail employees. This bill finally addresses that gap by extending Hours of Service safeguards to these essential workers, whose decisions directly impact the safety of conductors, engineers, and the communities we serve. We are proud to stand behind this legislation that prioritizes safety, fairness, and common sense. On behalf of our SMART-TD Yardmaster members across the country, we thank Representatives Carbajal and Lawler for championing this long-overdue protection." said SMART-TD.

The bipartisan Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act would include railroad yardmasters under federal hours of service requirements which currently cover safety-sensitive rail workers such as locomotive engineers, conductors, switchmen, dispatchers, and signal employees.

The bill ensures that a yardmaster may not be required or allowed to remain on duty for more than a total of 12 hours, and then must receive a minimum of 10 hours off duty.

First introduced in 2019, the Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act passed the House in 2020 as part of the INVEST in America Act. 

The bill has also been endorsed by SMART, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers.