Decatur- Rail Switching Technician
Posted Aug 7, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
This job is outdoors year-round in Decatur. Tell me about other work you have done outside in heat, cold and rain.
What they are checking: Whether they know what the conditions really are and have shown up through them before.
Tell me about a time you stopped a job or spoke up because something did not look safe.
What they are checking: Whether they will actually use stop-work authority instead of going along with the crew.
How dependable have you been with attendance in past jobs? Walk me through your record honestly.
What they are checking: Whether the customer facility can count on them, since a short crew slows the whole plant.
Tell me about working on a small team where everyone depended on each other to get the job done.
What they are checking: Whether they pull their weight and watch out for coworkers in a crew setting.
What have you done with heavy equipment or machinery before, and what did that teach you about paying attention?
What they are checking: Whether they bring a habit of situational awareness around heavy, moving equipment.
What would you do
A crew member gives you a hand signal you are not sure about. What do you do?
What they are checking: Whether they stop and confirm rather than guess when a mistake could cause a collision.
The plant is pushing to get cars spotted faster, and you are being rushed. How do you handle it?
What they are checking: Whether they keep their pace safe while still respecting the customer's schedule.
About the work
Why does a rail yard need such strict rules about stepping between cars or fouling the track?
What they are checking: Whether they grasp that railcars cannot stop quickly and that one shortcut can kill someone.
You will operate locomotives and assist with switching. How would you go about learning hand signals and radio communication with your crew?
What they are checking: Whether they understand that clear, confirmed communication is the core safety tool in switching.
What do you check before tying down or securing a railcar, and why does it matter?
What they are checking: Whether they understand hand brakes and securement prevent runaway cars that injure people.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Marmon Holdings.