Armoured car guard

Armoured car guards ensure the safe transportation of valuable items such as money or jewelry between locations like stores and banks. They load and unload the vehicle, handle the documentation of the transfer, deliver the items to the correct location and respond quickly to robberies, according to the security protocol in place. They may also handle guns and drive the armoured car.

Armoured car guards may work for corporate and business clients as well as the military.

Armoured car guards spend much of their work day driving to pick up and drop off the valuables and cash they transport. Depending on the location and the time of year, weather conditions can mean they need to drive through rain, ice, snow, and sleet. 

Individuals in this job typically carry and lift heavy bags of coins and other valuables.

Armoured car guards often work in teams. One person drives while one or two others are responsible for making the deliveries.

As armoured car guards transport money and other valuables, there may be some danger associated with the job, such as from robberies or attempted robberies. Therefore, they are often armed, but this is not universal.

The following job titles also refer to armoured car guard:

• van escort
• armoured truck guard
• car escort
• armoured car escort
• armoured van escort
• armoured van guard
• armoured car security guard
• truck escort
• armoured truck escort

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as armoured car guard. However, an experience in either the armed forces, private security or truck driving is necessary.

A driving license may be required in order to drive the vehicle, as well as a firearm license in some circumstances.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Armoured car guard is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to armoured car guard.

armoured car driver
crowd controller
gate guard
bodyguard
life guard

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of armoured car guard. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of armoured car guard with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

hand luggage inspector
store detective
court bailiff
private detective
lifeguard instructor

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of armoured car guard.

• Security threats: Types of threats to public and private security such as unauthorised entry, aggressive behaviour, molestation, robbery, theft, assault, kidnapping, murder and public demonstration.

These skills are necessary for the role of armoured car guard.

• Unload cargo: Handle safe unloading of goods from transportation vehicles.
• Load cargo: Gather goods to be transported and place them in a transportation vehicle.
• Comply with the principles of self-defence: Observe the principles according to which a person should only use so much force as is required to repel an attack. The use of deadly force is limited to situations where attackers are using deadly force themselves.
• Manage major incidents: Take immediate action to respond to major incidents that affect the safety and security of individuals in private or public places such as road accidents.
• Maintain vehicle delivery documentation: Ensure that vehicle delivery documents are made up accurately and on time.
• Provide secured transportation: Manage secured transportation of cash or other valuable cargo, like securities, jewellery or important individuals.
• Ensure regulatory compliance concerning distribution activities: Meet the rules, policies and laws that govern transportation and distribution activities.
• Handle delivered packages: Administer delivered packages and ensure that they reach their destination on time.
• Liaise with security authorities: Respond quickly to security incidents and violations by calling the police and keep in touch with other relevant parties involved in the potential prosecution of the offender.
• Manage theft prevention: Apply theft and robbery prevention; monitor security surveillance equipment; enforce security procedures if needed.
• Monitor security measures: Oversee and control the implementation of prevention, security, and surveillance measures in order to assess their effectiveness and to make adjustments in case of unsatisfactory results.
• Practice vigilance: Practice vigilance during patrol or other surveillance activities in order to ensure safety and security, to look out for suspicious behaviour or other alarming changes in patterns or activities, and to respond quickly to these changes.
• Manage cash transportation: Manage the appropriate and safe transportation of cash.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of armoured car guard. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Legal requirements related to ammunition: Legal regulations and requirements in the field of selling, buying, handling and storing ammunition.
• Surveillance methods: Surveillance methods used in the gathering of information and intelligence for investigation purposes.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of armoured car guard. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Operate radio equipment: Set up and operate radio devices and accessories, such as broadcast consoles, amplifiers, and microphones. Understand the basics of radio operator language and, when necessary, provide instruction in handling radio equipment correctly.
• Restrain individuals: Restrain, or control by force, individuals who violate regulations in terms of acceptable behaviour, who present a threat to others, and who perform acts of violence, to ensure the individual is unable to proceed in this negative behaviour and to protect others.
• Use modern electronic navigational aids: Use modern navigational aids such as GPS and radar systems.
• Provide first aid: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
• Drive vehicles: Be able to drive vehicles; have the appropriate type of driving license according to the type of motor vehicle used.
• Coordinate transportation: Scheduling of transportation operations.
• React calmly in stressful situations: React quickly, calmly, and safely to unexpected situations; provide a solution that solves the problem or diminishes its impact.
• Ensure compliance with types of weapons: Comply with legal requirements when using different kinds of firearms and other types of weapons and their matching ammunition.
• Acquire licences for the use of weapons: Coordinate with technical staff on legal aspects such as licenses, authorisations and assurances related to weapons and munition.
• Handle surveillance equipment: Monitor surveillance equipment to observe what people are doing in a given area and ensure their safety.
• Handle conflicts: Mediate in conflicts and tense situations by acting between parties, striving to effect an agreement, reconciliate, and resolve problems. Settle a conflict in such a way that none of the victims feels badly treated and avoid arguments in advance.
• Prepare transportation routes: Prepare routes through the addition or subtraction of routes, making changes to route frequency, and changing the service span of routes. Adjusts routes through providing additional running time to routes, adding additional capacity during periods of overcrowding (or reducing capacity during periods of low passenger numbers), and adjusting departure times in response to changes in circumstances along a given route, thereby ensuring efficient use of resources and achievement of customer relations goals.;
• Deal with aggressive behaviour: Respond promptly to adverse behaviour in a professional manner by taking appropriate and legal action to prevent further aggressiveness, such as verbal warning, lawful removal from the premises or apprehension of the person involved. Report details of adverse behaviour in line with the organisation’s procedures.
• Develop contingency plans for emergencies: Compose procedures outlining specific actions to be taken in the event of an emergency, taking into account all the risks and dangers that could be involved, ensuring that the plans comply with safety legislation and represent the safest course of action.

5414 – Security guards

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References

1. ESCO
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Armored Guard Transporting Money Jobs – Chron