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What They Do
Traffic Technicians plan and manage the movement of people, supplies and equipment by road, rail, air and sea. Their duties include passenger reception, warehouse operations, aircraft and rail load planning, and aircraft loading/unloading.
The primary responsibilities of Traffic Technicians are to:
- Prepare, load, secure and offload baggage, cargo and freight from road, rail, air and water transport vehicles
- Plan and arrange movements of personnel, furniture and effects, materiel and equipment by military and commercial means
- Liaise with commercial moving, storage and transportation firms
- Prepare, process, record and account for all transportation documents and forms relating to personnel and materiel movements
- Process passengers for travel at military air terminals and coordinate movement of passengers through commercial terminals
- As a member of a team, load and unload aircraft of materiel and people
- Operate military cargo, passenger vehicles and materiel handling equipment
- Process transportation charges and maintain financial records
Career Development
The starting salary for a fully-trained Traffic Technician is $49,400 per year; however, depending on previous experience and training the starting salary may be higher. Traffic Technicians who demonstrate the required ability, dedication and potential are selected for opportunities for career progression, promotion and advanced training.
The first stage of training is the Basic Military Qualification course, or Basic Training, held at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This training provides the basic core skills and knowledge common to all trades. A goal of this course is to ensure that all recruits maintain the Canadian Forces physical fitness standard; as a result, the training is physically demanding.
Traffic Technicians attend the Canadian Forces School of Administration and Logistics in Borden, Ontario. Training lasts approximately 18 weeks and includes the following topics:
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Driver Training:
- Operation, maintenance and servicing of military vehicles
- Operation, maintenance and servicing of forklifts and other container movers
- Airbrake qualification
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Administration Training:
- Operation of office equipment
- Maintaining technical library filing systems
- Telecommunications equipment
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Traffic Technicians Training:
- Personnel and materiel movement by road, rail, sea and air
- Aircraft load planning, weighing and balancing
- Loading and unloading of fixed wing aircraft
- Rail load planning materiel
- Customs requirements
- Movement of furniture and effects
- Passenger processing
- Transportation charges and financial records
- Document processing applicable to personnel and materiel movement
Traffic Technicians may be offered the opportunity to develop specialized skills through formal courses and on-the-job training, including:
- CC130 Hercules Aircraft – Loadmaster
- CC130 Hercules Aircraft – Loadmaster Air Dispatcher
- CC130 Hercules Aircraft– Loadmaster Search and Rescue
- CC130 Hercules Aircraft– Air to Air Refueling
- CC150 Airbus Aircraft – Loadmaster
- Helicopter Slinging
- Ship Loading and Stowage
As they progress in their career, Traffic Technicians who demonstrate the required ability and potential will be offered advanced training. Available courses include:
- Dangerous cargo handling
- Military packaging, marking and preservation
- Tactical Airlift – Basic
- Tactical Airlift – Advanced
The minimum required education to apply for this position is the completion of the provincial requirements for Grade 10 or Secondaire IV in Canada. Foreign education may be accepted.
This position is available for part-time employment with the Primary Reserve at certain locations across Canada. Reserve Force members usually serve part time at an Air Force Wing in their community, and may serve while going to school or working at a civilian job. They are paid during their training. They are not posted or required to do a military move. However, they can volunteer to move to another base. They may also volunteer for deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.
Traffic Technicians may be employed by the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. They plan and manage the movement of people, supplies and equipment, providing support to Canadian Armed Forces units for training and operations. When employed on a part-time or casual full-time basis, they usually serve at a Canadian Armed Forces location within Canada.
Reserve Force members are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. They usually begin training with their home unit to ensure that they meet the required basic professional military standards. Following basic military training, the home unit will arrange for additional training for specialized skills. Training for Traffic Technicians takes approximately 18 weeks and takes place at the Canadian Forces Logistics Training Centre in Borden, Ontario.
Reserve Force members usually serve part-time with their home unit for scheduled evenings and weekends (Air Reserve Traffic Technicians usually serve up to 12 days per month in a regular work day), although they may also serve in full-time positions at some units for fixed terms, depending on the type of work that they do. They are paid 85% of Regular Force rates of pay, receive a reasonable benefits package and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.
Find a unit in your area and start the application process for part-time employment now.
