Car Knocker

"Car knocker" is a traditional, informal name for a railroad car inspector and repairer - the worker who inspects freight cars and makes running repairs to keep them safe and in service. The term is railroad slang for the same role described more formally as a carmen.

Origin of the Name

The nickname is said to come from the old practice of striking, or knocking on, parts of a car - such as the wheels - and listening to the sound to judge their condition. A sound wheel rings clearly, while a cracked one gives a dull tone, so tapping components by hand and ear was a basic inspection method. The image of the inspector moving down a train knocking on its parts gave rise to the name.

The Role Today

Whatever the nickname, the work is the safety inspection and repair of railcars. Car knockers examine cars for defects - checking wheels, brakes, couplers, and running gear - and make the repairs needed to return a car to service or to set it out for shopping if it cannot be fixed on the spot. This work is closely tied to the condition standards of the interchange network and to Car Repair Billing. For a fuller description of the job and its responsibilities, see Carmen.