Freight transport networks are among the most complex and vital economic sectors. A good transport network ensures goods can get from place to place with ease, whether that's via road, rail or sea.

Road transport: This includes commercial trucking and road haulage. Road haulage is the most common means of transporting freight in Ireland. This creates a large demand for manpower in this area: HGV drivers, mechanics, warehouse workers, and others are key parts of the Irish truck transportation and warehousing industry. 

Rail Transport: For over 100 years railroad transportation has moved both freight and passengers across Ireland. The only firm in the railway sector in Ireland is Iarnrod Eireann (Irish Rail).

Goods transported by rail include raw materials such as ore and zinc, forestry products and consignments associated with the food and drink sector. The skills needed to facilitate this will, in the future, be increasingly related to ICT as planning and management activities become increasingly computer-based. Greater use of the rail network and the need for efficiencies to improve intensity of use will in turn, call for greater analytical capabilities from managers and planners. But there will remain a need for people to work in vital hands on roles within rail operations, such as train drivers, railroad brake operators, signal operators and switch operators.

Careers in Rail Operations, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering are expected to slowly increase over the years ahead as the numbers using the trains expands. Support roles such as Human Resources, Finance, Marketing and I.T. are also available in the sector.

Sea Transport: This is the motor that drives other maritime industries - it has three main aspects to it; Shipping Services, Marine Transport, Ports & Maritime Logistics. As an island nation the vast majority of goods come into Ireland via the sea, passing through the hands of dock workers and merchant sailors before entering the road and rail freight transport networks. Making them an essential part of the system.

Occupations in sea transport include: Harbour Master, Ships Captain, Deckhands, Ships Mate, Marine Mechanics - Aircraft Pilots are also included in the occupations needed by ferry companies today.