AustralianCourses
Career pathway

Freight Train Driver

OSCA 711331

Employed

4,000

Part-time share

9.1%

Female share

11.9%

Median age

47 yrs

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia · ABS 2021 Census of Population and Housing.

Freight Train Driver is a job in Australia. The job figures on this page come from Jobs and Skills Australia and the ABS Census, where they are published. The courses listed here lead to this job. Compare the fee, study mode, length, place, and how to get in before you enquire.

Jobs, part-time share, age, and pay appear on this page only when Jobs and Skills Australia or the ABS has published them for Freight Train Driver. A blank is a missing figure, not a pay of zero. The courses below are linked to this job. Open one to compare the fee, study mode, length, campus, and how to get in.

There is no single national fee or length for training that leads to Freight Train Driver. Each provider sets its own price, study mode, and entry rules. Those rules can include past study, an English level, work experience, or an interview. Check the AQF level, and whether you study in Australia or online, before you enquire.

About this career

Drives a train to transport freight on railways.

What they typically do

  • 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

Where they work

Transport, Postal and Warehousing

Qualification pathways

These accredited qualifications can lead to a career as a Freight Train Driver.

No qualification pathways published on training.gov.au yet.