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7512.3 – Subway train and light rail transit operators

Subway train and light rail transit operators transport passengers on established routes.

Profile

Example titles Help

  • Light rail transit operator
  • Public passenger transit driver
  • Subway train operator
  • Transit operator - transportation

Main characteristics Help

  • General learning ability to understand and apply knowledge and skills needed to operate subway trains and light rail transit vehicles
  • Motor co-ordination and Manual dexterity to operate controls that open and close vehicle doors
  • Objective interest in driving - operating - operating subway and rail transit vehicles as part of two-person crews
  • Methodical interest in copying information to report delays, malfunctions and accidents; and in observing signals at crossings and arrival and departure points
  • Social interest in speaking with control units when reporting delays, malfunctions and accidents; and in directing passengers during emergency evacuation procedures

Aptitudes Help

One of five levels assigned for each factor, with levels representing normal curve distribution of the labour force:

G
General learning ability
V
Verbal ability
N
Numerical ability
S
Spatial perception
P
Form perception
Q
Clerical perception
K
Motor co-ordination
F
Finger dexterity
M
Manual dexterity

Levels legend, text description directly below.
  1. The highest 10% of the working population
  2. Upper third, exclusive of the highest 10%
  3. Middle third of the working population
  4. Lowest third, exclusive of the lowest 10%
  5. Lowest 10% of the working population

An individual's overall capacity to learn the skills needed to perform job duties is based on his or her specific aptitudes for acquiring information and transforming it into action.

General learning ability G-3

Ability to 'catch on' or understand instructions and underlying principles; to reason and make judgments.

Verbal ability V-4

Ability to understand the meaning of words and the ideas associated with them, and to use them effectively; to comprehend language, to understand relationships between words and to understand the meaning of whole sentences and paragraphs; to present information or ideas clearly.

Numerical ability N-4

Ability to carry out arithmetical processes quickly and accurately.

Spatial perception S-4

Ability to think visually about geometric forms and comprehend the two dimensional representation of three dimensional objects; to recognize the relationships resulting from the movement of objects in space. May be used in such tasks as blueprint reading and in solving geometry problems. Frequently described as the ability to 'visualize' objects of two or three dimensions.

Form perception P-4

Ability to perceive pertinent detail in objects and in pictorial and graphic material; to make visual comparisons and discriminations and to see slight differences in shapes and shadings of figures and widths and lengths of lines.

Clerical perception Q-4

Ability to perceive pertinent detail in verbal or tabular material; to observe differences in copy, to proofread words and numbers, and to avoid perceptual errors in arithmetical computation.

Motor co-ordination K-3

Ability to co-ordinate eyes, hands and fingers rapidly and accurately when required to respond with precise movements.

Finger dexterity F-4

Ability to move the fingers and manipulate small objects with the fingers rapidly and/or accurately.

Manual dexterity M-3

Ability to move the hands easily and skillfully; to work with the hands in placing and turning motions.

Interests Help

Three of five descriptive factors, assigned in order of predominance and lower case rating indicating weaker representation:

D
Directive
I
Innovative
M
Methodical
O
Objective
S
Social

Objective O

Objective persons enjoy working with tools, equipment, instruments and machinery. They like to repair and/or fabricate things from various materials according to specifications and using established techniques. Objective persons are interested in finding out how things operate and how they are built.

Methodical M

Methodical persons like to have clear rules and organized methods to guide their activities. They prefer working under the direction or supervision of others according to given instructions, or to be guided by established policies and procedures. Methodical persons like to work on one thing until it is completed. They enjoy following a set routine and prefer work that is free from the unexpected.

Social s

Social persons like dealing with people. They enjoy caring for and assisting others in identifying their needs and solving their concerns. Social persons like working and co-operating with others. They prefer to be involved in work that requires interpersonal contact.

Data, people, and things Help

Data

0
Synthesizing
1
Co-ordinating
2
Analyzing
3
Compiling
4
Computing
5
Copying
6
Comparing
7
N/A
8
Not Significant

People

0
Mentoring
1
Negotiating
2
Instructing - Consulting
3
Supervising
4
Diverting
5
Persuading
6
Speaking - Signaling
7
Serving - Assisting
8
Not significant

Things

0
Setting up
1
Precision working
2
Controlling
3
Driving - Operating
4
Operating - Manipulating
5
Tending
6
Feeding - Offbearing
7
Handling
8
Not significant
Data Copying 5

Carrying out a set of explicit procedural/operational functions or processes based on an understanding of instructions or information necessary to perform the work.*

People speaking 6

Talking with and/or signalling people to convey or exchange information; giving assignments and/or directions to helpers.

Things Driving - Operating 3

Starting, stopping and running machines and equipment that must be steered or guided in order to fabricate, process and/or move things or people. Involves activities such as observing gauges and dials, estimating distances and determining speed and direction of other objects, pushing clutches or brakes, and pushing or pulling gear shifts or levers. Includes such machines as cranes, conveyor systems, tractors, and hoisting machines. Excludes manually powered and power-assisted machines.

Physical activities Help

V - Vision

1
Close visual acuity
2
Near vision
3
Near and far vision
4
Total visual field

H - Hearing

1
Limited
2
Verbal interaction
3
Other sound discrimination

L - Limb co-ordination

0
Not relevant
1
Upper limb co-ordination
2
Multiple limb co-ordination

C - Colour discrimination

0
Not relevant
1
Relevant

B - Body position

1
Sitting
2
Standing and/or walking
3
Sitting, standing, walking
4
Other body positions

S - Strength

1
Limited
2
Light
3
Medium
4
Heavy
Vision Vision V-4

The use of sight in the work performed. The levels are organized in terms of the visual field involved in the performance of the work.

4 - Total visual field

Work activities involve the entire field of vision – Near and far vision (3) – as well as depth perception and peripheral vision.

Examples:

  • driving vehicles
  • refereeing sports events
  • fighting fires
  • dancing onstage in ballet performances
Colour discrimination Colour discrimination C-1

The use of colour descrimination to identify, distinguish and match colours and different shades of the same colours.

1 - Relevant

Colour discrimination is relevant in the performance of the work.

Examples:

  • observing signals while operating vehicles
  • installing, testing and repairing electrical wiring
  • restoring and conserving museum and art gallery artifacts
  • designing, constructing and repairing dentures
Hearing Hearing H-1

The use of hearing in the work performed. The levels are organized in terms of the type of auditory discrimination involved in the performance of the work.

1 - Limited

Hearing is limited to short and/or infrequent verbal interactions in order to perform the work.

Examples:

  • typing and proofreading correspondence
  • cutting and trimming meat, poultry and fish according to customers' orders
  • carrying linen to and from laundry areas and running errands
  • assisting mine workers in constructing underground installations
Body position Body position B-1

Primary type of posture or body movement involved in performing the work. These postures or body movements range from simple to complex and from sedentary to mobile.

1 - Sitting

Work activities primarily involve sitting. Standing and/or walking (2) may occur but is incidental to the work being performed.

Examples:

  • reading and editing copy to be published or broadcast
  • preparing financial statements
  • issuing aircraft take-off and landing instructions to pilot
  • interviewing clients
Limb co-ordination Limb co-ordination L-1

The use of limbs in performing work.

1 - Upper limb co-ordination

Work activities involve co-ordination of upper limbs.

Examples:

  • keyboarding
  • performing maintenance services such as oil changes, lubrications and tune-ups
  • operating video cameras
  • instructing students in sign language
Strength Strength S-1

The use of strength in the handling of loads such as pulling, pushing, lifting and/or moving objects during the work performed.

1 - Limited

Work activities involve handling loads up to 5 kg.

Examples:

  • examining and analyzing financial information
  • selling insurance to clients
  • conducting economic and technical feasibility studies
  • administering and marking written tests

Environmental conditions Help

Location

L1
Regulated inside climate
L2
Unregulated inside climate
L3
Outside
L4
In a vehicle or cab

Hazards

H1
Dangerous chemical substances
H2
Biological agents
H3
Equipment, machinery, tools
H4
Electricity
H5
Radiation
H6
Flying particles, falling objects
H7
Fire, steam, hot surfaces
H8
Dangerous locations

Discomforts

D1
Noise
D2
Vibration
D3
Odours
D4
Non-toxic dusts
D5
Wetness
Discomforts Noise D1

Work conditions that create disturbances but are not hazardous. In general, these conditions create discomfort, but are not direct sources of injury. In extreme instances, however, these conditions might cause injury.

D1 - Noise

Work that produces sufficient noise – constant or intermittent – to cause marked distraction or possible loss of hearing.

Examples:

  • operating drilling equipment in underground mines
  • using power saws in logging operations
  • blasting rock surface in mining
  • operating heavy equipment for construction jobs
  • using firearms
Discomforts Vibration D2

Work conditions that create disturbances but are not hazardous. In general, these conditions create discomfort, but are not direct sources of injury. In extreme instances, however, these conditions might cause injury.

D2 - Vibration

Work that produces an oscillating or quivering motion of the body.

Examples:

  • operating jackhammers to break up pavement
  • driving tractors
  • operating drills to produce blasting holes in mines
  • shaping metal using power-forging machinery
Location In a vehicle or cab L4

The work performed is carried out indoors in a regulated environment, indoors in an unregulated environment, outdoors or in a vehicle. In many occupations, the Main Duties may be performed in more than one location. Therefore, a group may have more than one Location code, for example:

  • firefighting and fire prevention duties
  • maintenance of interior/exterior of buildings
  • managing operations and paperwork of farms

L4 - In a vehicle or cab

An interior space in any form of vehicle or in the cab of heavy equipment operated by the worker.

Examples:

  • driving buses
  • operating cranes
  • providing service to passengers during flights
  • operating subway transit vehicles

Employment requirements Help

Education/training Help

1
No formal education or training requirements
2
Some high school education and/or on the job training or experience
3
High school
4
Course work, training, workshops and/or experience related to the occupation
5
Apprenticeship, specialized training, vocational school training
6
College, technical school (certificate, diploma)
7
Undergraduate degree
8
Post-graduate or professional degree
+
Additional requirement beyond education and training
R
Regulated requirement(s)
2+, R
  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Up to three months of on-the-job training, including classroom instruction, is usually provided.
  • A minimum of one year of safe driving experience is required.
  • An air brakes endorsement and first aid certificate may be required.
  • Experience as a public transit bus driver is usually required for subway and light rail transit operators.

Workplaces/employers Help

  • Urban transit systems

Occupational options Help

  • Progression to transit supervisory positions, inspector or training instructor positions is possible with experience.

Exclusions Help

Breakdown summary

Broad occupational category
7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
Skill level
C – Occupations usually require secondary school and/or occupation-specific training
Minor group
75 – Transport and heavy equipment operation and related maintenance occupations
Minor group
751 – Motor vehicle and transit drivers
Unit group
7512 – Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
Version
NOC 2016 Version 1.3
Date modified: