Find a Job You Really Want In
Yes, transportation services is a good career path. Transportation services are anything involved with the movement of goods or people from one location to another. The industry involves trucking, marine cargo, airlines, and public transportation.
Transportation service is one of the most important parts of the United States economy. The movement of goods and people is crucial for businesses and consumers alike. Careers in transportation offer great opportunities for anyone interested.
Here are 14 great jobs in the transportation services:
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Highway Maintenance Jobs (Overview)
The 11 Best Paying Jobs in Transportation Services
Transportation services is such a big industry that there are many well-paying jobs to be found. With a little prior experience and qualification, you can be on your way to a great salary.
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Average Annual Salary: $83,000
Transportation managers must oversee all transportation tasks for their organization. They hire and manage mechanics, dispatchers, drivers, and more, so transportation managers must be good with people.
Transportation management is a rewarding job because it allows you to be involved in many different aspects of the industry. From customer service to mechanical inspections, transportation managers must have a keen understanding of what their team’s goals are.
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Average Annual Salary: $76,000
Civil engineers can be found in many industries, including transportation services. Civil engineers focus on the design and maintenance of infrastructure projects, so for transportation services, this can include bridges, highways, and airports.
Civil engineers must be detail-oriented because their word is the final say on how infrastructure will be built. Therefore, civil engineers need to be well versed in building codes, safety requirements, and zoning laws.
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Average Annual Salary: $72,000
Ferry engineers manage ferries that are used to ship people and cargo. Ferry engineers have to ensure their ship’s engines are functional and that safety precautions are taken during every step of the journey.
Ferry engineers need to know a lot about their own ships as well as the waterways they take. Ferry engineers also have to take charge in the event of an emergency and must be familiar with all roles found on their ship.
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Mobile Equipment Service Technicians
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Mobile equipment service technicians take care of heavy machinery used in mobile industries such as construction. It is a great job for anyone who likes to work outside.
Mobile equipment service technicians must be quite familiar with a wide array of machinery. This requires significant training and prepares the technician to be available at many different work sites.
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Average Annual Salary: $59,000
Truck drivers can be found in all different parts of the transportation service industry. They can range from hauling tractor-trailers to driving dump trucks.
Truck drivers need a commercial driver’s license, which is not a hard certification to get; however, it does require time, money, and discipline.
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Rail Conductor
Average Annual Salary: N/A
A rail conductor can have a variety of roles. On a passenger train, they check for tickets and help passengers with any questions or concerns. On freight trains, rail conductors must inspect cargo and keep an eye on it during its transportation.
If you have a good balance of people and organizational skills, then a rail conductor position might be a great fit for you, especially if you love to travel.
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Average Annual Salary: $53,000
Aircraft maintenance is crucial for the industry. There are strict regulations to make sure aircraft are always safe to fly because there is little room for failure once the plane is in the air.
Aircraft mechanics are people who love to work with their hands and thrive with the responsibility that comes with the position. If this sounds like you and you have a great interest in aircraft, then definitely consider this position.
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Average Annual Salary: $48,000
Diesel engines are slightly more complicated than your traditional gasoline-powered engine, so diesel mechanics are a highly sought-after profession.
Diesel mechanics take care of engines ranging from construction equipment to oil tankers because their knowledge can be used in any diesel-powered setting.
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Average Annual Salary: $46,000
Automotive service technicians are great jobs in the transportation services industry. They serve all different types of cars, so if you are a car lover, consider this position.
Automotive service technicians are your traditional mechanics for cars and other small vehicles. They are another profession for those who love to work with their hands and like to see a variety of projects over the course of a day.
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Average Annual Salary: $45,000
Oil pipelines are also part of the transportation services industry because pipelines transport oil over long distances. It is the responsibility of the oil pipeline dispatcher to organize and manage the flow of oil through this system.
Oil pipeline dispatchers need to be good at communicating with multiple people at once. Especially during shortages or emergencies, it is up to the oil pipeline dispatcher to route oil appropriately.
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Average Annual Salary: $47,000
Much of the freight that enters the United States comes on container ships and other forms of marine cargo. A marine cargo inspector makes sure that the freight that is both entering and leaving the port meets requirements and regulations.
This is a great job for anyone who likes to be by the water and is interested in marine shipping. It is also a great job for those who are familiar with maritime law and are able to project authority when necessary.
The 5 Best Entry Level Jobs In Transportation Services
For those interested in breaking into the transportation services industry, there are several jobs that make for a great starting point.
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Average Annual Salary: $36,000
If you like working with kids and driving, then a school bus driver position might be the perfect fit for you. As long as you have a clean driving record and CDL, you can apply for a school bus driving position.
There is also room for career growth. Down the line, you might be able to manage other bus drivers or find other positions in the school administration.
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Average Annual Salary: $33,000
Cargo agents oversee the movement of goods involved in ocean freight. They make sure all dues and fees are paid, and they also track the cargo to make sure it reaches its final destination.
Cargo agents are a great entry-level position for those interested in ocean freight. After starting out as a cargo agent, you could find yourself involved with higher-level ocean freight logistics.
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Average Annual Salary: $31,000
Shipping and receiving clerks oversee the administrative tasks involved with loading and unloading cargo in a warehouse. They are detailed-oriented people who oversee the inventory and financial information about the cargo.
If you are interested in a job as a shipping and receiving clerk, you’ll want to show that you have these skills. With success, a shipping and receiving clerk position can evolve into a higher-level role in the warehouse, such as a warehouse operations manager.
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Average Annual Salary: $36,000
Highways are super important to the transportation service industry, as well as for regular commuters, so keeping them in top order is critical. Highway maintenance workers are responsible for making sure the roads stay in top order.
If you like working outside, particularly at night, then a highway maintenance position is a great opportunity, as long as you have the physical labor skills.
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Average Annual Salary: $32,000
Those interested in operating heavy machinery in the transportation services industry should look into machine operator positions. They are very accessible to those who at least pass the training requirements for whatever machinery is involved.
Once you become a machine operator, you can work in a variety of settings, including construction sites, factories, and warehouses. From any one of these environments, you could then move up the professional ladder to more management-type positions.
Why Choose A Career In Transportation Services?
There are many reasons to choose a career in transportation services. Compared to other industries, transportation services offers all kinds of unique perks. It really becomes an attractive industry once you start to think about it. Consider:
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Variety in opportunities. Transportation services have such a wide variety of environments, from rail to trucking to warehousing, and in every environment, there are multiple job opportunities.
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Job security. Since our economy relies on transportation services, there will always be a need for it.
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Lots of traveling. As you can imagine, transportation service jobs offer the chance to travel. Especially if you find yourself on some type of carrier, you’ll always be on the go.
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Meet different people. Along with the different environments in transportation services come all different types of people. If you are interested in diversifying your professional network, transportation service is a great place to do so.
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Provide a backbone to the economy. Working in transportation services, you can take pride in the knowledge that your efforts help ensure that goods and services all across the country are reaching businesses and consumers to keep the economy going.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Transportation Services
Transportation services is a fairly accessible industry. For higher-level positions, a college degree or some type of trade certification is necessary. However, for more entry-level positions, you need only a GED or high school diploma.
Some commonly held degrees include:
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Management. It should come as no surprise that management-type positions often seek candidates with degrees in management who can use their skills as they oversee people and projects.
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Engineering. For jobs that are very technical, it can be helpful to have an engineering degree, particularly in civil or mechanical engineering.
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Logistics. Many operations positions require a deep understanding of logistical techniques, so a degree in this field will give you a leg up as a candidate.
However, not all positions need a degree. This includes:
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Merchant marine. Merchant marines need to be qualified with the Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), which is issued by the United States Coast Guard. This certificate proves that the merchant marine has met the guidelines of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW)
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Rail safety. To work in rail, mechanics, engineers, and yard workers alike have to be trained in all the safety procedures that come with working on trains.
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Machine safety. Likewise, for those who plan to operate heavy machinery, they must go through rigorous safety courses, which have to be consistently updated.
What Do People Working In Transportation Services Do?
People working in transportation services work to build, maintain, and transport goods and people in an efficient and pleasant way. Transportation services are always in motion. Our economy relies heavily on its success.
Most other industries need transportation services to either provide important materials or ship out products to customers. Without the transportation services, our economy would be at a standstill.
In the end, due to its importance and prevalence in the economy, transportation services provide a slew of great career opportunities. The wide variety of options also allows many people within the transportation industry to change jobs without the need to completely overhaul their careers.
If you are considering a job in transportation services, you should know that you find yourself in a situation where you have to play to your strengths, and you cannot go wrong.
Author
Conor McMahon is a writer for Zippia, with previous experience in the nonprofit, customer service and technical support industries. He has a degree in Music Industry from Northeastern University and in his free time he plays guitar with his friends. Conor enjoys creative writing between his work doing professional content creation and technical documentation.
