Types of Transportation Jobs
Transportation is a huge field, involving many different sides of how goods and people are moved, whether they are going across town or around the world. Positions in the field include not just jobs operating means of transportation, but also dealing with the people and products involved and keeping the vehicles in shape to transport things.
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Operation
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The people who are most directly involved in transportation are those who operate vehicles, but even within this subset there are numerous different jobs. While a school bus driver might have some requirements he must meet to qualify for the position--such as a clean record, valid license and high school diploma--being a commercial pilot requires years of specific training and many hours of supervised practice. Salaries vary dramatically as well. While a school bus driver may make only about $30,000 a year, an experienced pilot could make over $100,000 a year. Other operation jobs in transportation include train conductors, co-pilots, taxi drivers and truck drivers, both for long-haul and local deliveries.
Service
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Though operators may do some of these duties (like a bus driver who collects fares), other positions focus exclusively on dealing with customers. Ticket agents check fliers in as they enter an airport and mark bags for their destinations, while flight attendants take care of passengers aboard an aircraft. Baggage and cargo handlers and security agents also help travelers and goods depart and arrive at their destinations safely. Although formal training isn't typically required for these positions, certificate programs can be helpful in getting a job.
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Administrative
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Administrative work also goes on behind the scenes, as clerks, dispatchers and others work to keep schedules, budgets and organization information ordered and accessible. A college education and training in business and technology can be particularly helpful in getting these jobs, though there are not set standards or laws, and what's required will vary significantly by position and area of transportation.
Maintenance
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Mechanics are necessary to fix problems that arise and to regularly check vehicles to prevent problems before they occur. Although most mechanics are trained in community colleges or vocational schools, it's also possible to learn these skills on the job by working as an assistant to an experienced professional.
Management
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Like most fields, there are also those in management positions in charge of overseeing others' work and hiring and firing employees. They often hold a higher level of education and years of experience. Educators who train others to work in transportation are also involved in the field.
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