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Transport and Logistics

Overview

Transport and Logistics covers logistics, warehousing and the transport of freight and passengers. Freight transporters move goods by road, usually in vans, trucks or tankers. Passenger transport operators move people by road by bus or taxi. Postal and courier pick-up and delivery services form part of this sector.

What does this industry cover?

  • Logistics involves moving, storing and handling freight from a start point to an end point. 
  • Warehousing includes storage facilities for general merchandise, refrigerated goods, and other warehouse products. 
  • The Road Transport sector covers both the transport freight and the transport of passengers. 
  • Postal and courier pick-up and delivery services include the activities of Australia Post and its contractors, and other service providers. 
  • The Rail sector covers rail freight transport, rail and tram passenger transport and railway track construction.

Industry Information

Overall there are about 36,500 employers in the transport sector. 35,000 of these businesses are in road transport, 30 are in rail transport, 710 are in air transport and 760 are in water transport.

34,700 of these businesses employ less than 20 people. 160 employ more than 200 people, mainly in the road transport sector. There are 59,000 businesses that are contractors or self-employed. These are predominantly road freight operators, taxis or couriers.

378,000 people work in the transport sector – 253,000 in road, 43,000 in rail, 55,000 in air and 5,000 in water.

Apprenticeship and traineeship commencements in this industry are strong.

Employment and wage data for this industry

Commencements Change

The change in Australian Apprenticeships commencements in this industry in the past two years. Commencements in 2016: 7675

Source: NCVER Apprentice and trainee collection, 2017, unpublished. AATIS analysis.

Graduate Employment

Australian Apprentice graduates from this industry in employment (in any industry).

Source: NCVER National Student Outcomes Survey, 2017, unpublished. AATIS analysis.

Graduate Wage

Average wage of Australian Apprentice graduates from this industry employed full-time after training.

Source: NCVER National Student Outcomes Survey, 2017, unpublished. AATIS analysis.

Industry Growth

Growth in employment in this industry in the past 5 years.

Source: Department of Jobs and Small Business, 2017. AATIS analysis.

Industry Size

The number of employees in this industry compared with other Australian industries.

Source: Department of Jobs and Small Business, 2017. AATIS analysis.

Industry Wage

Average wage of all employees in this industry.

Source: Department of Jobs and Small Business, 2017. AATIS analysis.

Want to look in detail at some related sectors?

Warehousing and Logistics

Key Occupations

Truck Driver

Warehouse Operators

Cold Store Operators

Logistics Supervisor

This industry is positioned in the following groups

Industry

Transport, Logistics & Warehousing

Work Type

Practical & Manual

Ready to see where Transport and Logistics can take you?

Career Pathways

Transport and Logistics has career pathways from Certificate II through to Diploma. Look at the Job Pathway Chart to see what is of interest.

Job Pathway Charts

Practice Aptitude Quiz

This resource illustrates the maths and literacy needed to complete the entry level training in this sector.

Download The Quiz

Support Services

Apprenticeship Network Provider Finder

Apprenticeship Network providers can give information about starting an apprenticeship or traineeship, eligibility questions, and they also handle the paperwork and ongoing administration of apprentices and trainees.

Group Training Organisations Finder

Group Training Organisations employ apprentices and trainees and then host them out to employers. These organisations can provide great information about starting a career through Australian Apprenticeships.

Work Type Explorer

Search for Job and Training Descriptions by selecting from seven work type descriptions. For more details, take yourself through the Career Interest Explorer.

Further Research

Information

Industry information is published by peak level associations, government and major employers.  Accessing industry association sites, including member lists, is a good way of building up an understanding of an industry.  Visiting employer websites and looking for careers or employment menus helps identify how employers recruit and the skills they are recruiting.

Use Google to search for the associations and organisations listed below. 

Industry Groups

  • Bus Industry Confederation
  • Australian Trucking Association
  • Australasian Railway Association
  • Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Australia
  • Transport and Logistics Skills Council
  • Logistics Information and Navigation Centre

Career Sites

Helpful links

Job Hunting Tips

Job and Training Descriptions

Bag of Tricks

Pre-apprenticeships

AusAppPathway - Mobile App

Australian Apprenticeship Ambassadors

Jobactive

Australian Job Search App