OSCA 711331

Freight Train Driver

Overview

  • Employed persons

    4,000

  • Employment status

    90.9% Full time

    9.1% Part time

  • Median age

    47 years

  • Employment by sex

    11.9% Female

    87.9% Male

    Highly male dominated

  • Indigenous employment share

    4.8%

  • Main employing industry

    Transport, Postal and Warehousing

Indicator Freight Train Driver Total employment
Employed persons 4,000 12,049,400
Median age 47 years 40 years
Full-time share 90.9% 64.2%
Part-time share 9.1% 35.8%
Female employment share 11.9% 48.5%
Male employment share 87.9% 51.5%
Gender segregation intensity scale Highly male dominated Gender balanced
Indigenous employment share 4.8% 2.2%
Main employing industry Transport, Postal and Warehousing Health Care and Social Assistance
Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

Occupation overview

Freight Train Drivers drive a train to transport freight on railways.

What the occupation involves

  • Inspects locomotives and rolling stock before, during and after journeys
  • Operates and monitors controls to regulate speed, direction and braking, and track fuel consumption
  • Ensures livestock freight are safe and in good physical condition
  • Communicates with control centres and other train crew using radios and signals
  • Manages the loading and unloading of freight
  • Performs minor repairs and maintenance tasks on-track if necessary
  • Couples and uncouples wagons using manual tools
  • Keeps records of journeys, delays and any incidents that occur
  • Follows timetables and schedules to ensure on-time delivery of freight

Common occupation titles

  • Freight Locomotive Driver

Specialisations

No specialisations are listed for this occupation.

Skill level (education and experience level)

Skill level 3
equivalent to a mid-level Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification (Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least 2 years’ on-the-job training).

Note: While skill levels are described using formal education levels, some people use a combination of informal learning, on-the-job training and personal experience to achieve an equivalent level.

Licensing or registration requirements

Registration or licensing is required.

OSCA structure

Machinery Operators and Drivers (7)

Employment

On this page

    Industries

    Top 10 most common industries, 2021

    Freight Train Driver Total employment
    Industry Share of occupation Industry Share of occupation
    Transport, Postal and Warehousing 75.4% Health Care and Social Assistance 14.5%
    Manufacturing 11.6% Retail Trade 9.1%
    Mining 10.0% Construction 8.9%
    Administrative and Support Services 0.5% Education and Training 8.8%
    Public Administration and Safety 0.5% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 7.8%
    Wholesale Trade 0.2% Public Administration and Safety 6.6%
    Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing <0.1% Accommodation and Food Services 6.5%
    Health Care and Social Assistance <0.1% Manufacturing 5.9%
    Professional, Scientific and Technical Services <0.1% Transport, Postal and Warehousing 4.5%
    Accommodation and Food Services 0.0% Financial and Insurance Services 3.7%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    States and territories

    Employment distribution by states and territories, 2021

    • New South Wales

      30.0%

    • Victoria

      11.3%

    • Queensland

      35.3%

    • South Australia

      6.1%

    • Tasmania

      0.8%

    • Northern Territory

      0.6%

    • Australian Capital Territory

      0.0%

    Freight Train Driver Total employment
    State / Territory Employment Share of occupation Employment Share of occupation
    New South Wales 1,200 30.0% 3,684,200 30.6%
    Victoria 460 11.3% 3,162,900 26.2%
    Queensland 1,400 35.3% 2,444,100 20.3%
    South Australia 250 6.1% 839,400 7.0%
    Western Australia 640 15.9% 1,306,200 10.8%
    Tasmania 30 0.8% 254,700 2.1%
    Northern Territory 30 0.6% 107,000 0.9%
    Australian Capital Territory 0 0.0% 248,600 2.1%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    Age and sex

    Employment distibution by age group and sex, 2021

    Freight Train Driver

    Total employment

    Age group Freight Train Driver Total employment
    15–24 years 4.1% 14.3%
    25–34 years 15.5% 22.7%
    35–44 years 23.9% 22.3%
    45–54 years 24.2% 20.4%
    55–64 years 27.3% 15.3%
    65–74 years 4.8% 4.3%
    75 years and over 0.3% 0.6%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.
    Sex Freight Train Driver Total employment
    Female 11.9% 48.5%
    Male 87.9% 51.5%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    On this page

      OSCA occupation profiles data

      This file contains data available from the OSCA Occupation Profile page.

      Use of this data must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      OSCA Occupation data - 2021 Census.xlsx

      xlsx 1236447

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      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA)

      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) is the skill-based classification used to categorise occupations across the Australian labour market. OSCA is used to define occupations across all official occupational statistics. OSCA replaces the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

      Each job is classified to one, and only one, group of jobs at each level of the classification with no overlaps. This prevents the accidental double-counting of roles within the Australian labour market. For more information about OSCA, visit the What is OSCA information page, or the ABS website.

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