Transportation Careers
According to the U.S. Department of Labor a career in transportation is a job that puts you in the center of one of the country's most valued resources. Whether they are transporting people or goods, transportation professionals are crucial spokes in the wheels of the economy. Here is information about a few high-profile transportation careers that will help you determine whether a transportation career is right for you.
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School Bus Driver Careers
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If you like working with kids, a transportation career as a school bus driver may be ideal. Elementary and high school bus drivers have a similar schedule to that of teachers. A school bus driver's schedule runs alongside the students' hours, so this type of career requires that you work nine months out of a year. School bus drivers have a fairly light schedule that lasts for about four or five hours a day. School bus drivers are usually paid an hourly rate that increases according to seniority at the company. They are also required to get a CDL (commercial driver's) license and take a school bus and passenger transport test in order to drive. Some school bus drivers take on special school runs in the summer to keep income coming in, while others file for unemployment during those summer months.
Commercial Bus Driver Careers
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A career as a city bus driver is very similar to that of a school bus driver in that they both transport passengers, are responsible for the safety of those passengers, are paid an hourly wage, and must follow a specific route. The difference is that city bus drivers are picking up a mix of both adults and kids and are required to collect fares from each rider. City bus drivers also work longer hours, year long. There is an added risk associated with this transportation career because the drivers have to interact with strangers and are sometimes required to work late at night in high-crime areas. You must pass a passenger transport test and receive a CDL license in order to work as a bus driver.
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Trucking Careers
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When costs are down (especially that of fuel) and business is booming, trucking companies tend to hire more truckers. Truckers are very disciplined drivers and must be able to spend hours driving at time. On a long haul a truck driver could be required to drive anywhere between 10 and 16 hours at a stretch in order to meet a delivery deadline. They are paid based on the mileage that they cover (commonly about 19 cents to 44 cents a mile according to the Truckers Report). However, they are not paid for the time they spend waiting at docks or going through weight checkpoints on the road. In order to be a trucker you have to receive a CDL license and pass various tests, including a hazardous materials test and tanker test.
Aviation and Maritime Careers
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Aviation is an exciting yet very exclusive field. Aviators must go through high-level training and pass an FAA knowledge test and practical exam in order to fly planes. They have a lot of responsibility and risk in their hands when carrying passengers and cargo miles up in the air. In order to start a maritime career you must also undergo an intensive training period and pass a United States Coast Guard exam (the International Convention on Standards for Seafarers exam) in order to become properly licensed. In addition to transporting passengers on the water for excursions, you may even want to look into a transportation career with the Navy. Naturally, because of their extensive knowledge and intense duties, aviation and maritime professionals are usually among the most well paid workers in the transportation industry.
U.S. Department of Transportation Careers
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You can also start a transportation career with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). With a job at the USDOT you will likely be responsible for the oversight of all modes of moving goods and people in the United States, including aviation, maritime, and highway transportation.
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