FRA Certified Train Dispatcher

Which 49 CFR part establishes the federal certification standards for train dispatchers?

• A49 CFR Part 240
• B49 CFR Part 242
• C49 CFR Part 243
• D49 CFR Part 245

When was the FRA final rule for dispatcher certification (49 CFR Part 245) published in the Federal Register?

• AMay 21, 2024
• BJuly 22, 2024
• CJanuary 1, 2025
• DMarch 17, 2025

Under 49 CFR 245.201, how often must a certified dispatcher be recertified?

• AAnnually
• BEvery two years
• CEvery three years
• DEvery five years

Under 49 CFR 245.120, a dispatcher loses territorial qualification on a specific territory if they have not worked that territory as a dispatcher within the previous:

• A3 months
• B6 months
• C9 months
• D12 months

Under the General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR), Restricted Speed means moving at a speed:

• ANot exceeding 10 mph and able to stop within one car length
• BNot exceeding 15 mph and prepared to stop within one-half the range of vision short of tr…
• CNot exceeding 20 mph and prepared to stop within the full range of vision
• DNot exceeding 25 mph while watching for stop signals

Under federal hours-of-service law (49 U.S.C. 21105) for dispatchers, the maximum on-duty time in any 24-hour period at an office that employs only one shift is:

• A8 hours
• B9 hours
• C10 hours
• D12 hours

Under federal hours-of-service law (49 U.S.C. 21105) for dispatchers, the maximum on-duty time in any 24-hour period at an office that employs two or more shifts is:

• A8 hours
• B9 hours
• C10 hours
• D12 hours

Which 49 CFR part governs hours-of-service recordkeeping and reporting for railroad employees, including dispatchers?

• A49 CFR Part 220
• B49 CFR Part 228
• C49 CFR Part 240
• D49 CFR Part 245

Which 49 CFR part contains the federal rules for railroad radio communications, including mandatory directives?

• A49 CFR Part 214
• B49 CFR Part 220
• C49 CFR Part 234
• D49 CFR Part 236

Positive Train Control (PTC) is governed by which subpart of 49 CFR Part 236?

• ASubpart A
• BSubpart E
• CSubpart G
• DSubpart I

Which method of train operation uses signal indications displayed by a dispatcher's centralized control system to authorize train movements?

• ATrack Warrant Control (TWC)
• BDirect Traffic Control (DTC)
• CCentralized Traffic Control (CTC)
• DManual Block System (MBS)

When a dispatcher issues a mandatory directive by radio, the receiving employee is required to:

• AAcknowledge only that they heard the transmission
• BRepeat the mandatory directive back to the dispatcher verbatim
• CWrite down the directive and read it back only if asked
• DAcknowledge with their employee ID number

Which 49 CFR part governs roadway worker protection and on-track safety?

• A49 CFR Part 213
• B49 CFR Part 214
• C49 CFR Part 217
• D49 CFR Part 218

Under 49 CFR Part 214, 'foul time' is a form of working limits granted by:

• AThe roadway worker in charge to a train crew
• BA train crew to the dispatcher
• CThe dispatcher to the roadway worker in charge
• DThe yard foreman to a maintenance gang

Under 49 CFR 245.117, a dispatcher candidate must meet:

• AColor vision standards only
• BHearing acuity standards only
• CBoth visual and hearing acuity standards
• DNeither — Part 245 has no medical requirements

The federal authority for FRA's dispatcher certification rule comes from which law?

• ARail Safety Improvement Act of 2008
• BFederal Railroad Safety Act of 1970
• CHours of Service Act of 1907
• DStaggers Rail Act of 1980

Which 49 CFR part governs highway-rail grade crossing warning systems?

• A49 CFR Part 213
• B49 CFR Part 220
• C49 CFR Part 234
• D49 CFR Part 236

Which signal aspect requires the engineer to proceed at restricted speed?

• AClear
• BApproach
• CRestricting
• DStop and Proceed

Under Part 245, training programs must include which combination of methods?

• AOnly classroom training
• BOnly on-the-job training
• CAn appropriate combination of classroom, simulator/computer-based, correspondence, and on…
• DOnly the railroad's own internal videos

When a dispatcher receives a report of a malfunctioning highway-rail grade crossing warning system, the dispatcher must promptly notify:

• AOnly the train crews approaching the crossing
• BOnly the highway authority responsible for the crossing
• CBoth affected train crews and the law enforcement agency or highway authority responsible…
• DOnly the signal department on the next business day

Under 49 CFR 245.7, the term 'dispatcher' applies to any person who performs the duties of a dispatcher:

• AOnly if their official job title is 'dispatcher'
• BRegardless of the person's official job title or classification
• COnly if the person is unionized
• DOnly at Class I railroads

Under 49 CFR Part 220, recorded radio communications conveying mandatory directives must be retained for at least:

• A24 hours
• B30 days
• C1 year
• D3 years

Under 49 CFR Part 245, by what date were railroads required to submit their initial dispatcher certification programs to the FRA for approval?

• AJuly 22, 2024
• BOctober 22, 2024
• CMarch 17, 2025
• DJuly 22, 2025

Subpart E of 49 CFR Part 245 covers:

• AKnowledge testing
• BRecordkeeping
• CDispute resolution
• DHours of service

Under 49 CFR Part 245, who actually administers the dispatcher knowledge and skills tests?

• AFRA inspectors directly
• BThe employing railroad under its FRA-approved certification program
• CA national testing center such as Pearson VUE
• DThe Association of American Railroads (AAR)

Which of the following is NOT a method of operation for authorizing train movements?

• ATrack Warrant Control (TWC)
• BCentralized Traffic Control (CTC)
• CDirect Traffic Control (DTC)
• DClass IA Inspection (CIA)

A dispatcher receives a clear, credible report of a derailment with possible hazardous materials release. The dispatcher's FIRST priority is to:

• ANotify the local media
• BPrevent any conflicting train movements toward the affected area
• CCalculate hours-of-service implications for the crew
• DUpdate the GPS records

Under 49 CFR Part 245, who must possess territorial qualification?

• AOnly newly certified dispatchers
• BOnly senior dispatchers
• CEvery certified dispatcher who works a given territory
• DOnly dispatchers working CTC territory

Under 49 CFR Part 245, if a dispatcher fails the knowledge test required by 245.121, the railroad must:

• AImmediately revoke any other railroad certifications the person holds
• BNot permit or require that person to work as a dispatcher until they pass a reexamination
• CReassign the person to roadway worker duties
• DFire the person within 30 days

A 'mandatory directive' under 49 CFR Part 220 is best described as:

• AAny optional advisory message between dispatcher and crew
• BAny movement authority, restriction, or instruction affecting a railroad operation
• CAny internal performance review
• DAny radio test transmission

Under 49 CFR 245.119, an initial dispatcher training program must include all of the following EXCEPT:

• AFederal railroad safety laws, regulations, and orders
• BRailroad-specific operating rules and procedures
• COn-the-job training with required tasks and proficiency standards
• DMandatory completion of an FAA aircraft dispatcher rating

A track warrant authorizes a train to occupy main track between two points. If the dispatcher needs to cancel that authority before the train has completed it, the dispatcher must:

• AIssue the cancellation only after the train calls clear
• BConfirm the train has stopped, communicate the cancellation, and obtain a verbatim repeat…
• CNote the cancellation in the train sheet — no radio contact is required
• DCancel the warrant unilaterally and notify the crew later

Under 49 CFR 245.115, prior safety conduct review for a dispatcher candidate must consider:

• AOnly conduct in the current job
• BConduct in any prior position as a safety-related railroad employee
• COnly conduct in a non-railroad job
• DOnly motor vehicle conduct

Under 49 CFR Part 228, dispatcher hours-of-service records must generally be retained by the railroad for at least:

• A30 days
• B6 months
• C2 years
• D5 years

A dispatcher must release authority to a roadway worker in charge for foul time on Main Track 1 between MP 10 and MP 12. Which step is essential before granting foul time?

• AIssue a general bulletin without confirming any train locations
• BConfirm no conflicting train movements are authorized within the limits and obtain a clea…
• CWait until the end of the shift to issue the foul time
• DGrant foul time on every track simultaneously to save time

An engineer reports a 'penalty brake application' was initiated by the PTC system. The dispatcher should understand this typically means:

• AThe locomotive engineer manually applied the emergency brake for a hazard
• BThe PTC on-board system enforced a stop because the train exceeded its authority or speed
• CThe train hit a grade crossing
• DThe locomotive's HEP failed

Under 49 CFR Part 220, a railroad's wayside defect detector (e.g., hot bearing detector) verbally reports an alarm to a train. The dispatcher's role in communicating the alarm typically is to:

• AIgnore detector alarms — they are between the detector and the train
• BAcknowledge the alarm, coordinate any required inspection stop, and document the event pe…
• COrder the train to immediately uncouple the suspect car at the next siding without inspec…
• DCancel all authorities for the rest of the shift

Under 49 CFR Part 245, FRA may revoke a dispatcher's certification or require corrective action if:

• AThe dispatcher uses paid leave during the certification period
• BThe dispatcher commits one of the disqualifying violations specified in Subpart D
• CThe dispatcher works for more than one railroad
• DThe dispatcher transfers between subdivisions

An employee assigned to dispatch a territory tells the dispatcher he is not territorially qualified on that territory. Under 49 CFR 245.120, the railroad:

• AMay still require him to dispatch because he is a certified dispatcher
• BMust not permit or require him to dispatch the territory unless he is qualified or is ass…
• CMay require him to dispatch if the shift is shorter than 4 hours
• DMay ignore the report if the dispatcher refuses overtime

A 'Form D' is most closely associated with which method of operation?

• AGCOR Track Warrant Control
• BNORAC Form D Control System (DCS)
• CCTC signal authority
• DYard limit operations only

A dispatcher must issue a slow order for a 25 mph permanent speed restriction over a curve where the timetable speed is 45 mph. The slow order should be transmitted as:

• AA verbal note in passing — no documentation needed
• BA track bulletin or general track bulletin in accordance with the railroad's operating ru…
• CA track warrant only
• DA foul time release

When two trains hold conflicting authorities in TWC territory and the conflict is discovered after both crews have repeated back, the dispatcher must:

• AAllow the trains to negotiate which one proceeds first by radio
• BStop both trains, void the conflicting authorities through proper Part 220 cancellation p…
• CTell the second train to wait at the next siding without modifying authorities
• DTake no action because the crews already repeated back

Under 49 CFR Part 245, the railroad must monitor a dispatcher's operational performance:

• AOnce during initial training only
• BAt least annually per the railroad's FRA-approved program
• COnly when an incident occurs
• DEvery five years

An emergency call from a train reports a 'main track is fouled' condition ahead. The dispatcher's immediate action is to:

• AContinue normal operations while waiting for confirmation
• BIssue stop instructions to all trains in the affected area and protect against additional…
• CIssue a slow order for 25 mph
• DInform the public information officer first

Under 49 CFR Part 245, an initial dispatcher training program must address Federal compliance with which of the following?

• AOnly operating rules — no hazmat or emergency content
• BHazardous materials, passenger train emergency preparedness, and emergency response proce…
• COnly commercial driver licensing
• DOnly computer-based simulator scenarios

A dispatcher must coordinate the movement of a passenger train through a section that lost power. Under 49 CFR Part 239 (Passenger Train Emergency Preparedness), the dispatcher's emergency response role typically includes:

• ACoordinating with emergency responders and the on-board crew per the railroad's emergency…
• BPersonally evacuating passengers
• CIssuing tickets to affected passengers
• DNegotiating with passengers' insurance carriers

Two railroads operate over the same trackage and the dispatcher of Railroad A controls trains operated by Railroad B. Under 49 CFR Part 245, the dispatcher must:

• ABe territorially qualified on the shared trackage and follow Railroad A's certification p…
• BHold separate certifications for every railroad whose trains they dispatch
• CNot dispatch foreign-railroad trains under any circumstance
• DReceive a daily waiver from FRA