Transportation Operator Jobs

About Transportation Operator Jobs

People and products are constantly being transferred from one place to another via different modes of transportation such as cars, trains, trucks, ships and aircrafts. Transportation operators are responsible for running these vehicles and making the transference of people and products swiftly and efficiently.

Obtaining Driver Licence

Procedures for obtaining a driver licence in Australia varies from state to state, but most territories employ similar licensing systems that require driver classification. Tourists not staying for more than three months are allowed to use the driver's licence from their own country. Those that will exceed the three-month rule and apply for a transportation operator job are required to acquire a driver licence from the state they reside.

The most common transportation operator jobs available are:

  • Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs- transports people to specific destinations. They usually drive sedan-type vehicles, but may also drive utility vehicles and vans on occasion. Chauffeurs may work for rental car companies, business or government organisations, and well-to-do families. The latter type of chauffeur is conveniently called a 'family driver' for posterity. Chauffeurs may also perform security functions especially when driving VIPs. Taxi drivers use a fare meter to compute how much a passenger needs to pay. Taxi drivers usually work for a taxi company and assigned in shifts.
  • Bus and Tram Drivers- work is similar to taxi drivers, but drive a much larger vehicle and more number of passengers. Bus drivers usually have particular routes and are required to load and unload passengers at specific bus stops, but may also be used in tours and pleasure trips. Tram drivers drive on fitted routes such as tram and railway systems. They also have specific stops for passengers.
  • Delivery Drivers- transports goods by land. Vehicles used in delivery may be motorcycles, cars or vans. Delivery drivers usually travel over short distances and within state limits. They may work for a company or independently. Some
    delivery drivers have their own vehicles and work on a contractual basis.
  • Truck Drivers- similar to delivery drivers, but employ much larger vehicles and bigger cargo. Their trips may last an overnight or one week or more. Truck drivers may deliver these goods from a production plant to warehouses, from
    warehouses to retail centers, ord direct from production plant to retail centers. Some truck drivers may perform sales and/or customer service functions. Truck drivers in Australia who drive vehicles above 12 tonnes are required to take 30-minute breaks after driving for 5 hours and rest for 10 hours after a 14-hour drive. The truck driver must also spend 24 hours away from his vehicle after driving consecutively for 72 hours (excluding break and rest hours). Recordkeeping is done to keep tabs on hours and kilometers covered during driving.

Wage and Benefits

Salaries for transportation operator jobs are usually in the moderate range. In addition to this, there is the negative image that drivers have in the eyes of the public. Company-employed drivers such as taxi, bus and tram, and truck drivers are entitled to normal labor
benefits.