What is the job of a driver? Who is a machinist and what does he do, his profession is a machinist. What personal qualities should a driver have?

Details Updated: 01/17/2020 16:02

The train driver is a specialist who operates electric, freight and passenger trains.

They can move with the help of a diesel locomotive or an electric locomotive. Some of them are used to transport passengers or goods over long distances, others are intended for industrial facilities. In each of these cases, special training of the driver is required.

Occupation train driver was born at the same time as the railways. In the Russian Empire, the first professionals who knew how to operate locomotives appeared in 1834. At that time, trains traveled mainly from St. Petersburg to Moscow at a speed of almost 33 km/h.

In the USSR, railways were actively developing, and the need arose to transport people and goods over long distances. Due to this train driver job has become prestigious and in demand.

At the moment, qualified machinists are in great demand.

Features of the profession

The train driver is a man driving a locomotive, but one can handle such a thing responsible work not easy, so he works with an assistant.

The profession is suitable for those who love traveling and driving vehicles.

Working as a train driver far from simple. The shift lasts on average 13 hours, during which time you need to be extremely careful. Over time, vision problems may occur.

Another disadvantage of the profession is a long absence from home; you have to work at any time of the day, regardless of holidays and weekends.

Responsibilities

The driver's responsibilities include driving the train along the route, strictly following the schedule and observing traffic rules. It is necessary to be able to make decisions quickly, since the situation on the railway, the behavior of passengers, weather conditions and other factors can change quickly and unpredictably.

Important qualities

Occupation train driver requires:

high concentration of attention;
stress resistance;
responsibility;
ability to make quick decisions;
assess and calculate the situation.

This profession also requires good eyesight and excellent hearing.

A person who has problems with blood vessels, heart, vestibular apparatus, nervous and musculoskeletal systems, or with bronchial asthma cannot become a driver.

Skills and knowledge

The train driver is a person who knows how to operate a locomotive and is well acquainted with its structure is able to carry out minor plumbing and engineering work and carry out maintenance of the train.

He must also be able to use radio communications, control crowds and communicate with people in stressful situations, and thoroughly know the rules of traffic on the railway.

Prospects and career

The driver can go to work on the railway, in the metro, at a geological exploration site, industrial enterprise, into the mine. To obtain a position, work experience is required, so after training it is easier to get a job as an assistant driver.

Depending on the qualifications, the driver receives a class. Beginners have no category. After a year of work, you can pass the exam and become a third-class specialist. In another year - get the second class, and then the third. Qualification affects the salary level.

Education

Depending on basic education and the form of training, mastering a profession will take from six months to five years.

The life of a modern person cannot be imagined without machines and other mechanized devices. It is quite logical that there are people who operate such machines. And if machines used for personal purposes are operated by their owners, then equipment for industrial or public purposes can only be operated by specialists - representatives of the machinist profession.

It is impossible to imagine the life of a modern person without machines and other mechanized devices, which not only make our lives easier, but significantly increase the productivity of specialists in a variety of industries. It is quite logical that there are people who operate such machines. And if machines used for personal purposes are operated by their owners, then equipment for industrial or public purposes can only be operated by specialists - representatives profession machinist.

Since we are unlikely to live to see the moment when machines are fully automated (that is, no longer require human control) in the next few decades, and the number of machines is steadily increasing, the labor market is constantly in need and will continue to be in need of professional machinists for a long time. Therefore, many yesterday’s schoolchildren prefer not to chase fashion, choosing today’s popular professions of economist or lawyer, but opt to study as a machinist, since this profession guarantees Fixed salary, regardless of the economic situation in the country.

Who is a driver?

Qualified specialist, professional activity which consists of controlling machines of various types and purposes. Note that depending on what kind of machine the specialist is driving, the term “driver” is always supplemented by the type of machine. At the same time, some professions related to the management of certain types of machines have nothing in common with the term “driver”. For example, a car is controlled by a driver, and an airplane is controlled by a pilot.

The name of the profession comes from the Latin māchina (tool, device, mechanism). It is interesting that in pre-Petrine Russia all mechanical devices were called “colossus,” and only then did this word acquire a slightly different meaning, and the mechanisms began to be called the German word Maschine. The first cars appeared in ancient times, and accordingly, the profession of the same name arose at the same time.

But if at the dawn of the formation of the profession, machinists controlled primitive lifting mechanisms (blocks and levers) and military equipment, then modern specialists manage a huge amount a wide variety of equipment, the control of which is akin to control of a spaceship: cranes, trains, manipulators, excavators, etc. True, in everyday life, most specialists are called by the name of the equipment they operate: crane operator, bulldozer operator, excavator operator.

Regardless of what machine the specialist is working on, professional responsibilities All drivers are approximately the same: operating a mechanical device, maintaining cleanliness in the workplace, strictly following safety precautions during work, monitoring the condition of the equipment and timely completion of technical inspection of the machine, etc.

What personal qualities should a driver have?

Since any machine is a device increased danger, the driver must, first of all, be very attentive and responsible. Besides, driver's work requires a specialist to have such personal qualities as:

stress resistance;
accuracy;
endurance;
concentration;
love of technology;
courage;
ability to react quickly in unexpected situations;
developed hand coordination;
good reaction.

It is also necessary to understand that the work of a driver is physically difficult work, so representatives of this profession must be strong, not only physically, but also mentally.

Advantages of being a driver

Since no sphere of human life today can do without the use technical devices, the demand for specialists capable of operating machines has always been and will remain consistently high for a long time. That is, immediately after completing training, a young specialist is guaranteed to be able to find a job in his specialty (though, in some cases, he will first have to work for some time as an “assistant driver”).

One more advantage of being a machinist we can safely say that the level of earnings is quite decent - according to the latest statistics, the average salary of a driver in Russia is 40 thousand rubles. Agree, for working profession that's a lot.

It is also important that the profession of a driver, which, by the way, enjoys well-deserved respect, allows you to feel your significance and “usefulness” for society. After all, it is thanks to these specialists that we can quickly get from one place to another by train or metro, build multi-story buildings, easily move multi-ton objects, etc.

Disadvantages of being a driver

Talking about disadvantages of the machinist profession First of all, it is necessary to note the difficult working conditions. As a rule, drivers work in shifts. Moreover, the shift lasts more than 8 hours, which is difficult not only physically, but also emotionally. Maybe that’s why this profession is considered to be exclusively “male” - it’s hard to imagine a representative of the fair half of humanity at the control panel of a tower crane or behind the wheel of a bulldozer.

In addition, the great psychological stress in the work of a driver creates enormous responsibility, since the health and lives of many people sometimes depend on his professionalism. Because of this, the driver can obtain permission to work only after medical examination, including psychological state.

Where can you get a job as a driver?

Get a job as a driver, regardless of the specialist’s field of activity, it is possible in a secondary specialized educational institution. However, the learning process most often does not stop there. Firstly, since equipment is constantly being improved and updated, the driver has to periodically undergo retraining or improve his qualifications. Secondly, some specializations, for example, the profession of an electric train driver, require not only obtaining practical skills in the position of “driver’s assistant” (and, in the case of as an electric train driver, the specialist must work as an assistant driver for at least 3 years before he is allowed to independently drive the train), but also take additional courses.

It’s already clear who the driver is. Definition: a person who operates any complex machine - a locomotive, crane, train or excavator, for example - is a machinist. The profession is considered a purely male one, since it is extremely rare to meet a woman among machinists.

What exactly does a driver do?

Based on the fact that drivers may have different specializations, their functional responsibilities vary:

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conveyor operator. He is in charge of elevators, reloading carts, and drive stations. This position involves monitoring the tension drums, feeders, tensioners and conveyor belt running;
. Difficult work in which you have to deal with irregular schedules, difficult working conditions, physical and psychological stress. The train driver sets passenger and freight trains in motion and ensures normal passage along the route;
electric train driver. Controls a huge “iron caterpillar”, assesses its technical condition and, if necessary, corrects problems.

Most often, machinists begin their careers as assistants in order to acquire practical skills. Upon employment higher education is not required, but you will still have to complete the relevant courses.

Features of the profession

If we talk specifically about train and electric train drivers, then it would be appropriate to mention heavy physical activity.

Every working day for drivers begins with a thorough medical examination - those who do not pass it are not allowed to work. Therefore, the driver must be resilient and physically healthy, have excellent vision and hearing.

The salary of representatives of this profession is quite decent and amounts to about a thousand dollars. However, you should not think that you can easily change your specialty if you wish. Typically, machinists dedicate their entire lives to their profession: gaining experience and reputation, and undergoing a full examination every few years.

Due to the fact that the work of a driver is considered hard work, early retirement is usually provided for. Indeed, strong stress, constant concentration of attention, conditions that adversely affect the nervous system and internal organs, contribute to weakening health, and the person begins to need frequent rest.

What qualities should a driver have?

First of all, responsibility. Being late to work by just a few minutes can be considered sabotage by your bosses. And if the sluggishness of an electric train driver during peak hours leads to a delay of ten to fifteen minutes, then this could jeopardize the normal movement of an entire metro line.

In addition, the driver simply must be self-confident, attentive, careful, prudent and constantly vigilant, remembering that he is responsible for the lives of hundreds of people.
This profession does not tolerate any kind of arbitrariness, arrogance and recklessness. The driver is required to strictly follow the instructions, follow the agreed departure and stop schedules, and have an excellent understanding of traffic light regulation and conventional signals. To better understand the work of these people, pay more attention to those who drive the trains, and then it will become clear to you who the driver is.

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A train driver is a real male profession. Not only because it is associated with enormous responsibility: the law also does not allow women to drive a locomotive, since this work is difficult and even dangerous.

Average wage: 39,000 rubles per month

Demand

Payability

Competition

Entry barrier

Prospects

A train driver is a professional railway worker who operates a locomotive or multiple unit train, ensuring the transportation of goods and passengers.

History of the profession

Once regular rail transportation began, there was a need for skilled workers to operate steam locomotives. The brigade then included not only the train driver, but also a fireman, who monitored the fuel level and added it. A stoker in French was called a “chauffeur”, that is, a driver, which is where this word entered our lexicon.

In Russia, the profession of “train driver” appeared back in 1834. The technical revolution has led to very rapid development and complication of mechanisms, so there is a need to train relevant specialists. On freight trains and on long-distance passenger flights, the driver is assigned an assistant.

Description and characteristics of the profession

The train driver personally controls the locomotive, not entrusting this work to anyone. He must carefully monitor the road and traffic lights. Maintenance of the equipment and control over its normal operation on the road is entrusted to the assistant.

Train drivers can work on different types of transport:

on locomotives to which cars are coupled (electric locomotive, diesel locomotive, steam locomotive);
on a multiple unit train (electric train, diesel train).

Where can people of this profession work? The main employer is JSC Russian Railways. To a much lesser extent, the profession of a train driver is in demand in metropolitan areas, mines and large factories that have their own railway tracks.

Directions, specialties and educational institutions according to the profile of training

To train as a train driver, you do not need to go to university. This specialty is taught in numerous railway technical schools and colleges, which can be entered after finishing 9th or 11th grade secondary school. The main specialty is “technical operation of railway rolling stock.”

Regional branches of Russian Railways may have their own training centers. Thus, the Moscow Road Technical School of Locomotive Drivers No. 1 operates under the Moscow Railway in the city of Dolgoprudny.

Among large quantity We will highlight several secondary specialized educational institutions in different regions of the country:

Ulan-Ude College railway transport at a local institute allows you to get necessary knowledge and work in Transbaikalia.
Omsk Technical School of Railway Transport. Here, among others, the profession of diesel locomotive driver is also available.
The Volgograd College of Railway Transport trains specialists in the areas of "Locomotives" and "Wagons".
Department of secondary vocational training in Kazan is a branch of Samara state university communication routes. The profession of locomotive driver is available to school graduates through a certificate competition.
The Chelyabinsk branch of the SPO Ural GUPS trains technicians for driving electric and diesel locomotives. Students undergo internships and gain experience at industry enterprises.

The choice of where to go and where to learn a profession is quite wide. After grade 11, the duration of training is 34 months, after grade 9 - 46 months. There are always a lot of budget places in such institutions, but you can also study on a contract.

However, simply training as a driver is not enough to independently drive a multi-ton train. After graduation, you receive the specialty of an assistant driver and then study and gain experience on the job. This takes about two years, after which you need to pass a qualifying exam.

Professional Responsibilities

The Russian Railways driver performs the following functions:

control different types trains (passenger, freight) on various routes (suburban or long-distance), as well as industrial and shunting locomotives;
maneuvering at stations and depots;
ensuring stable operation of all components and mechanisms for the most efficient movement of the train;
acceptance and check of the technical condition of the locomotive train before the trip;
monitoring the state of the contact network, traffic lights, tracks and instrument readings;
constant communication with employees responsible for the movement of vehicles;
compliance with the approved traffic schedule;
control over boarding/disembarking of passengers;
security safe delivery people and goods to their destination;
Troubleshooting along the way;
locomotive crew management.

These are the general duties performed by a train driver, although they may differ slightly depending on the location of work (metropolitan, mining or industrial plant).

Who is it suitable for?

A train driver is a job for strong men. Russian legislation prohibits women from working in this position. Candidates must have the following characteristics:

good health and physical strength,
endurance and patience,
willingness to perform the same actions for many hours,
accuracy and attention to detail,
organization, methodicalness, discipline,
the ability to instantly respond to changes in the road situation,
excellent memory (visual, auditory, logical),
ability to concentrate and switch attention.

The railway is not for weak people, therefore a contender for workplace must be stress-resistant, cool-headed and courageous when making decisions. Considering the fact that technology is constantly becoming more complex, you need to have an inclination to work with it and the appropriate knowledge.

This profession is not suitable for people who have health problems, in particular, visual and hearing impairment, diseases of the cardiovascular or musculoskeletal system, as well as respiratory organs.

You have to undergo a medical examination first upon admission to educational institution, then upon hiring, after which an annual health check becomes mandatory medical institutions railway system.

The advantages of the job include:

good wages and benefits package,
availability of bonuses and benefits,
demand for the profession,
quality medical care,
the opportunity to retire earlier.

There are also a lot of disadvantages:

work is associated with constant stress;
the traveling nature of the activity, which interferes with normal rest, nutrition and communication with family;
shift work, including on holidays and weekends;
negative effects on the body of electric fields, vibration, acceleration and braking;
risk of injury at work.

The driver does not just sit in the cab and drive the train - he is required to have a deep knowledge of all rolling stock systems, the ability to operate them correctly and perform repair work. He must know and strictly follow all approved instructions, since the cost of a driver’s error can be human lives.

Wage

The profession of a driver is one of the highest paid on the railway. This is compensation for very hard and responsible work. Average level salaries across the country are 60-65 thousand rubles; in many remote regions (Tuva Republic, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Sakhalin Region) they are willing to pay up to 75 thousand rubles.

But these indicators are averaged. The level of wages differs depending on the region (in large cities they pay more) and the place of work (in mines, mines and factories, wages are lower than in Russian Railways). An employee’s income is also affected by his length of service and the size of the bonus: qualified train driver long distance with experience, he can bring home 100,000 rubles a month.

A person driving an electric train in the Moscow metro is paid on average about 60 thousand rubles, in St. Petersburg a little less, in other cities where there is a metro - 25-30 thousand rubles. At enterprises with an internal railway network, the level of wages ranges from 20 to 50 thousand rubles.

How to build a career

Directly in the train driver's cabin, you can grow up the professional ladder, gaining experience and increasing your class, on which your salary directly depends.

Third class can be obtained after 2 years by gaining the required mileage on a shunting locomotive or commuter electric train.
Second class available after another 2 years of continuous employment, provided that the employee has a good track record and has no violations or accidents. Then he will be entrusted with a passenger train on a short route.
First grade assigned to those who, having received second class, have worked qualitatively for at least 3 years. The employer can entrust this specialist with driving any train over any distance.

For getting leadership position You will need to graduate from a specialized higher education institution.

Prospects for the profession

The demand in the labor market for qualified machinists is very high. Employers are willing to pay big money to such employees, so working as a locomotive driver promises good prospects.

Every time we leave the railway station for a trip, we are amazed at the strength and power of the machine, which powers a huge train consisting of several cars. Of course, such a device is difficult to operate, and it is simply impossible to cope with it alone. That is why trains, as a rule, are operated by two specialists at once: the driver and his assistant.

You may have a completely logical question: since modern trains are almost completely automated, why is it necessary today? Occupation: assistant driver? Is it really impossible for the driver himself to cope with the control of a computerized locomotive? No, he can not! The fact is that quite often in the process of controlling a train it becomes necessary to perform several technical operations at once in places remote from each other. In addition, the work of a driver has a number of features that make it possible to classify this profession as very difficult and dangerous, so the assistant driver often serves as “insurance” in case the driver loses his ability to work while on the road.

Who is a driver's assistant?

A railway transport worker who is part of a locomotive crew. Place of work this specialist are all types of trains of different connections and destinations (freight, passenger, electric trains, etc.).

The name of the profession comes from the Latin word māchina (tool, device, mechanism). That is, the name itself directly indicates that we're talking about about a specialist who helps operate the mechanism. It is interesting that initially those who operated a mechanism were simply called “mechanics,” and only later the responsibilities of specialists were redistributed: a mechanic began to be called a person who understands the principles of operation of the mechanism, and a machinist was a professional who controls the mechanism. This profession arose relatively recently, namely when the first steam locomotives appeared. In Russia this happened in the middle of the century before last.

What does an assistant driver do? First of all, it must be said that the assistant driver is not just a backup for the chief manager of a diesel or electric locomotive. He has his own, very important role and place in the cabin, and a lot depends on the activities of the assistant driver. Assistant driver job assumes employment in all cycles of the trip: before, during and after:

Before the trip, the assistant driver must inspect the locomotive and check its technical condition, identifying possible malfunctions. He must also check the adhesion of the locomotive to the rolling stock;
During the trip, the assistant driver monitors light and sound signals on the highway and reports them to the driver, ensures radio communication and its excellent condition (and this is very important and directly ensures the safety of passengers, as it connects the vehicle crew with dispatchers). He also monitors all instrument and sensor readings and, if necessary, warns the driver about malfunctions. In addition, this specialist must inform the driver where and when it is necessary to increase or decrease the speed of the locomotive;
After the trip, the assistant inspects the locomotive, uncouples it from the rolling stock and, together with the driver, takes it to sidings.

To summarize, we can conclude: assistant driver's activity comes down to ensuring the safety of passengers in transport, the serviceability of rolling stock and the acquisition of experience and professional skills that will subsequently help a specialist independently operate a locomotive.

What personal qualities should an assistant driver have?

Because the professional duties of an assistant driver are not much different from the activities of a person responsible for operating a locomotive, the personal qualities of this specialist, first of all, should include responsibility and discipline. In addition, the most important requirements for an assistant driver are:

good reaction;
attentiveness;
caution;
prudence;
endurance;
good visual memory;
ability to quickly switch attention;
stress resistance;
visual and hearing acuity;
high coordination of movement;
a penchant for working with technology.

An assistant driver is a profession in which people who have not received special education cannot work. You need to know a lot: the features of the train, the operation of the locomotive, communication routes, and also to know thoroughly specifications trains, be able to read readings from complex instruments and monitor the normal operation of the locomotive.

Advantages of being an assistant driver

Basics advantage of being an assistant driver is in high demand. Despite the active development of air and sea water transport, the railway in Russia still remains the main means of transportation and cargo transportation. Therefore, the need for such specialists will only increase in the coming years.

Another advantage of this profession is the fact that the work of a locomotive crew is highly paid. The risks in the profession are very high, and the payment must be decent - today, specialists directly involved in operating a train receive on average about 40-50 thousand rubles.

We cannot remain silent about the great opportunities career growth. Not only that, after several years of successful work, an assistant driver can become a driver or move to the position of a foreman or section manager at a depot. In the long term, there is no upper career ceiling in this profession at all - you can even become the Minister of Railways.

Since technology is constantly improving, an assistant driver must constantly develop his technical skills and gain new knowledge, and this is an excellent opportunity to increase his level of erudition and “train” his brain. In other words, a specialist in this field can safely consider himself an intellectually developed person who understands the latest achievements of science and technology.

And lastly, locomotive crew workers are subject to increased demands in terms of health (the health of both the driver and his assistant is monitored before each trip), so representatives of this profession do not have to worry about the presence of any pathologies and chronic diseases.

Disadvantages of being an assistant driver

Disadvantages of being an assistant driver associated with difficult working conditions. Constant work in the confined space of a locomotive cabin, strain on vision and hearing, vibration, noise, road dust - all this accompanies the locomotive crew throughout the working day. This does not exclude a high degree of fatigue at the end of the working day, and the assistant driver is simply obliged to rest well, which is not always possible. Otherwise, fatigue accumulates, which can lead to irreversible consequences.

It is also worth noting that an assistant driver is a profession with a high risk to the life and health of a specialist. Transport disasters, unfortunately, are not uncommon. Therefore, it cannot be said that this profession is absolutely safe. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the purely psychological disadvantage of the profession - a high degree of responsibility for the safety and lives of people, which leads to increased anxiety.

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