How to become a ground and water transport ticket agent, cargo service representative or related clerk
Official title: Ground and water transport ticket agents, cargo service representatives and related clerks
Also called: Stowage clerk, Bus ticket agent, Ship cargo agent, Railway express agent, Sales agent - railway, Ticket clerk - railway, Baggage agent - railway, Freight agent - railway, Railway passenger agent, Station agent - railway, Ticket agent - bus line, Bookings clerk - railway
Ground and water transport ticket agents, cargo service representatives and related clerks, quote fares and rates, make reservations, issue tickets, process cargo shipments, check baggage and perform other related customer service duties to assist travellers. They are employed by bus and railway companies, freight forwarding and shipping companies, boat cruise operators and other public transit establishments and by travel wholesalers.
Main tasks
- Ticket agents
- Answer customer inquiries, quote fares and assist clients in planning travel times and routes
- Reserve seats for tour companies, travel agencies, wholesalers and the general public
- Issue tickets, handle cash transactions and check baggage
- Receive and record bookings for package tours from retail travel agencies and supply information regarding available vacancies when working for wholesale travel companies
- Cargo service representatives
- Quote fare and rates for cargo shipment
- Compute shipment costs including charges for services and insurance using rate tables and schedules and prepare and maintain shipping and other documents
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Up to 10 weeks of training may be provided.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $41,340 a year The middle half earn $35,100 to $51,344.
- About 3,600 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 3,800 are projected by 2033. (+5.6%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Travel counsellors
- Pursers and flight attendants
- Airline ticket and service agents
- Hotel front desk clerks
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Questions people ask
How do I become a ground and water transport ticket agent, cargo service representative or related clerk?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Up to 10 weeks of training may be provided.
How much does a ground and water transport ticket agent, cargo service representative or related clerk earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $41,340 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $35,100 to $51,344.
Is a ground and water transport ticket agent, cargo service representative or related clerk a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2033, from about 3,600 to about 3,800 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a ground and water transport ticket agent, cargo service representative or related clerk?
Usually not. Only 16% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03