Transportation Careers - Job Titles and Descriptions

Transportation Careers - Job Titles and Descriptions Transportation Careers - Job Titles and Descriptions Transportation is a broad field that includes job titles ranging from aircraft pilot to yardmaster. Whether its planning travel, moving materials, or transporting people or goods, there are many different roles available for those interested in working in the transportation sector. Review job titles, career options, in-demand jobs, and salary information for transportation and material moving occupations. Careers in Transportation Transportation careers includes jobs in industries that transport passengers and cargo via plane, rail, bus, boat, transit system, and other modes of private and public transportation. Transportation jobs might also involve scenic and sightseeing transportation. The transportation and material moving sector also includes positions that support the industry. For example,  travel and tour agencies  that book transportation and logistics staff that coordinate transportation are part of the transportation industry. So are mechanical support personnel such as automotive mechanics, automotive service technicians, maintenance workers, and repair workers. There are many different job options if youre interested in working at an airport. Just getting started on a job search in the transportation industry? It can help to familiarize yourself with common transportation occupations and job titles. You might also use this list to encourage your employer to change your  job title  to fit your responsibilities. Common Transportation Job Titles Some of the most common and in-demand job titles in the transportation industry are drivers, movers, and logistics personnel. For more information about each job title, check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics’  Occupational Outlook Handbook. Truck Driver A  truck driver  transports goods from one place to another. Often, they move products from a manufacturing plant to a retail or distribution center. They need to have mechanical knowledge and be able to maneuver their vehicle. They also need to be able to complete their drive within a given amount of time. Truck drivers spend lots of time away from home, and are often alone in the truck. They must be comfortable with the irregular schedule and the physical demands of the job. CDL DriverDelivery DriversDelivery HelperTruck DriverTruck Driver Supervisor Public Transportation / Bus Driver Bus drivers might work for a school system, a private client, or the public (if they drive a city bus). They are in charge of following a given route, picking up and dropping off clients, and arriving at places at a given time. Unlike truck drivers, bus drivers regularly interact with passengers, so they need strong customer service skills. Bus DriverPublic Transportation InspectorRoute DriverRoute SupervisorSchedulerStreetcar OperatorSubway OperatorVan Driver Taxi Drivers, Chauffeurs, and Drivers Taxi drivers and chauffeurs transport people to and from their destinations. They have to be good drivers and know their way around the area in which they are driving. They often have to go through some form of training, but there are rarely education requirements. Taxi driver and chauffeur jobs require strong customer service skills. Cab DriverChauffeurCourierDispatcherDriverDriver / Sales RepresentativeDriver / Sales WorkersFleet CoordinatorFleet ManagerShuttle Car OperatorTaxi Driver Material Mover Material movers and hand laborers move materials such as freight or stock. They might retrieve or unload trucks carrying materials. They may pack or wrap products as well, or even clean transportation equipment. While there are typically no formal education requirements, material movers often receive some training, and need physical stamina and strength. ExpeditorFork Lift OperatorLogisticianMaterials Control ManagerMaterials HandlerMaterials Handling SupervisorMaterials PlannerPackage HandlerPackaging EngineerProduction SchedulerRefuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Distribution / Warehousing Operations Most cargo transportation depends upon the seamless operations of large distribution centers and warehouses. These busy hubs require both white- and blue-collar workers to ensure that freight is handled within established transportation schedules. Distribution Center ManagerDistribution DirectorDistribution ManagerEquipment DirectorEstimating ManagerEstimatorInventory Control AnalystInventory Control ClerkInventory Control ManagerInventory Control SupervisorOperations ManagerOperations SecurityShipping and Receiving ClerkShipping and Receiving SupervisorTop Distribution ExecutiveTop Inventory Control Executive Traffic, Transportation, and Travel Logistics Traffic and Transportation Logistics Analysts and related personnel coordinate all details of the transportation of people or of cargo between their points of departure and destination. Import/Export ClerkImport/Export ManagerImport/Export SupervisorLogistics AnalystLogistics CoordinatorLogistics ManagerLogistics SpecialistTraffic ClerkTraffic DirectorTraffic ManagerTraffic/Rate AnalystTraffic SupervisorTransportation AnalystTransportation AttendantTransportation BrokerTransportation DirectorTransportation InspectorTransportation ManagerTransportation PlannerTransportation SupervisorTravel CoordinatorTravel Manager Water Transportation Worker Water transportation workers perform a variety of tasks. They operate and/or maintain vessels that transport people or cargo across bodies of water. There are many specific job titles within the broader category of “water transportation worker,” including merchant mariner, captain (or master), mate (or deck officer), pilot, sailor, ship engineer, marine oiler, and more. While there are no education requirements for entry-level oilers and sailors, upper-level positions (such as engineers and officers) typically require specific certificates. CaptainCrewDeck OfficerDeckhandMarine Cargo InspectorMarine OilerMarine OperatorMerchant MarinersMotorboat OperatorPilotSailorWater Transportation Operator Air Transportation Workers In 2017,  according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this industry employed an estimated 36,940 aircraft mechanics and service technicians, 75,120 pilots and flight engineers, 9,260 cargo and freight agents, and 83,320 reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks. Job titles in air transportation include: Air Traffic ControllersAircraft PilotAirport Operations Crew MemberFlight AttendantFlight EngineerFlight InstructorGate Operations StaffHelicopter Pilot Railroad Transportation Workers There were about 105,500 railroad workers in the U.S. workforce in 2016. These positions typically require a high school diploma and extensive on-the-job training. ConductorEngineerLocomotive EngineerRail Car RepairerRail Yard EngineerRailroad Brake OperatorRailroad ConductorRailroad Yard WorkerTrain Crew MemberTrain OperatorYardmaster Wages and Salary The median annual wage for transportation and material moving occupations was $31,600 in May 2017, which is below the median for all occupations of $37,690. On the higher end of the salary range, the median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $42,480 in May 2017 and the median annual wage for air traffic controllers was $124,540.