Transport and storage labourers

How to become a driver of animal-drawn vehicles and machinery

Official title: Drivers of animal-drawn vehicles and machinery

Also called: Animal-drawn vehicle driver, Animal train driver, Mahout

Drivers of animal-drawn vehicles and machinery drive animal-drawn vehicles to transport passengers or goods, as well as animal-drawn machinery usually in connection with farming.

Main tasks

Harnessing animals and hitching them to vehicles or machinery
Loading or unloading goods, or assisting passengers in getting on or off a vehicle
Driving animals in the desired direction with due regard to other traffic and traffic regulations
Collecting fares or charges
Driving animals to haul wagons in mines or quarries
Driving animals hitched to farm or other machinery
Driving working elephants
Maintaining vehicle or machinery, making minor repairs and installing replacement parts
Grooming and feeding animals

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: HK$14,400 a month
About 337,600 people in 2025, and about 334,700 projected by 2028. (-0.8%)
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Questions people ask

Do you need a degree to become a driver of animal-drawn vehicles and machinery?

Usually not. Only 2% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a driver of animal-drawn vehicles and machinery?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
Census and Statistics Department (Annual Earnings and Hours Survey): Monthly and hourly wage percentiles by occupational group (5 groups) (Tables 220-23014, 220-23024, 220-23003) (2025 (May to June 2025), released 2026-03-23), retrieved 4 October 2026
Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026