49 C.F.R. § 212.217 – Car inspector.

(a) The car inspector is required, at a minimum, to be able to conduct independent inspections of railroad rolling stock for the purpose of determining compliance with all sections of the Freight Car Safety Standards (49 CFR part 215), Safety Glazing Standards (49 CFR part 223), Safety Appliance Standards (49 CFR part 231) and Power Brake Standards (49 CFR part 232), to make reports of those inspections and to recommend the institution of enforcement actions when appropriate to promote compliance.
(b) The car inspector is required, at a minimum, to have at least two years of recent experience in freight car or passenger car construction, maintenance or inspection. Successful completion of the apprentice training program may be substituted for this two year experience requirement.
(c) The car inspector shall demonstrate the following specific qualifications:
1. (1) A comprehensive knowledge of the construction and testing of freight and passenger cars and air brakes;
2. (2) The ability to understand and detect deviations from:
  1. (i) Railroad freight and passenger car maintenance standards accepted in the industry; and
  2. (ii) The Freight Car Safety Standards (49 CFR part 215), Safety Glazing Standards (49 CFR part 223), Safety Appliance Standards (49 CFR part 231) and Power Brake Standards (49 CFR part 232);
3. (3) The knowledge of railroad operating procedures associated with the operation of freight and passenger cars and air brakes sufficient to understand the safety significance of deviations and combinations of deviations; and
4. (4) Specialized knowledge of proper remedial action to be taken in order to bring defective freight and passenger car equipment and air brakes into compliance with applicable Federal standards.