Notify who immediately if you discover automatic highway crossing warning devices that are not functioning properly?

• A. The supervisor
• B. The engineer
• C. The dispatcher
• D. The flagger

Answer: (C)

When automatic highway crossing warning devices aren’t functioning, the dispatcher is the person to contact right away. The dispatcher has the authority to control train movements and to coordinate the necessary protection for the crossing—whether that means issuing instructions to trains to slow or stop, arranging temporary protection, or coordinating with maintenance to fix the devices. This central point of contact ensures a consistent, rapid response to keep road users and trains safe.

The other roles don’t have the same immediate authority to manage movement and crossing protection in this situation. The supervisor handles general operations on a broader level, but not the real-time control of train movements or crossing protection. The engineer is focused on operating the train and would report the issue but should follow dispatcher instructions rather than trying to determine protection actions themselves. The flagger is used mainly in specific work-zone scenarios to protect workers or a temporary crossing setup, not as the default channel for a malfunctioning crossing warning system.