HB4095, the Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act of 2025, would amend federal railroad labor law to extend existing hours-of-service protections to yardmaster employees. Under current law, title 49 of the U.S. Code limits duty hours for train employees and certain related railroad workers; this bill would add yardmasters to those protections and define a “yardmaster employee” as an individual responsible for supervising and coordinating the control of trains and engines operating within a rail yard. The bill also makes conforming changes to the statutory headings and table of sections so that the new coverage is reflected throughout chapter 211 of title 49.
In practical terms, the bill would place yardmasters under the same federal duty-hour framework that applies to train employees, likely affecting railroad scheduling, staffing, and compliance practices in rail yards. It would not create a new regulatory scheme so much as expand an existing one, making yardmasters explicitly covered by federal fatigue-management and work-hour limits. Because the bill amends federal law, it would preempt inconsistent state rules to the extent they conflict with the federal hours-of-service regime for railroad employees.
Impact
The bill would amend sections 21101 and 21103 of title 49, United States Code, to add yardmaster employees to the federal hours-of-service limitations already applicable to train employees. It would also update the chapter 211 table of sections to reflect the expanded coverage. The primary affected parties would be railroads, yardmasters, and railroad labor/compliance personnel, who would need to ensure duty schedules and operational practices comply with the revised federal limits.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally positive or protective sentiment toward the bill, as reflected in its title and bipartisan introduction by Representatives Carbajal and Lawler. The measure appears aimed at worker safety and fatigue reduction in rail operations, which typically draws support from labor and safety advocates. No committee transcript or vote data is available, so there is no recorded opposition or amendment debate in the provided materials.
Contention
The bill’s likely points of contention would center on operational flexibility and compliance costs for rail carriers, since extending duty-hour limits to yardmasters could require staffing changes, shift restructuring, or additional personnel. Supporters would likely emphasize safety, fatigue prevention, and the similarity of yardmaster responsibilities to other covered railroad employees. No specific objections, amendments, or recorded committee disagreements are included in the provided materials.