Transportation Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the transportation operations within an organization or the activities of organizations that provide transportation services.

Median Annual Wage: $85,400

Education: Bachelor's degree (41%); High school diploma or equivalent (34%); Associate's degree (24%)

Projected Growth: Slower than average (3% to 7%)

Related Job Titles: Director of Operations; Trainmaster; Transportation Manager; Freight Coordinator; Transportation Director; Fleet Manager; Global Transportation Manager; Traffic Manager; Train Operations Manager; Transportation Supervisor

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Transportation Managers.

More Management Careers

  • Direct activities related to dispatching, routing, or tracking transportation vehicles, such as aircraft or railroad cars.
  • Monitor operations to ensure that staff members comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, union contracts, environmental policies, or government regulations.
  • Serve as contact persons for all workers within assigned territories.
  • Implement schedule or policy changes for transportation services.
  • Monitor spending to ensure that expenses are consistent with approved budgets.
  • Promote safe work activities by conducting safety audits, attending company safety meetings, or meeting with individual staff members.
  • Prepare management recommendations, such as proposed fee and tariff increases or schedule changes.
  • Direct investigations to verify and resolve customer or shipper complaints.
  • Direct or coordinate the activities of operations department to obtain use of equipment, facilities, or human resources.
  • Analyze expenditures and other financial information to develop plans, policies, or budgets for increasing profits or improving services.
  • Collaborate with other managers or staff members to formulate and implement policies, procedures, goals, or objectives.
  • Plan or implement energy saving changes to transportation services, such as reducing routes, optimizing capacities, employing alternate modes of transportation, or minimizing idling.
  • Direct staff performing repairs and maintenance to equipment, vehicles, or facilities.
  • Conduct employee training sessions on subjects such as hazardous material handling, employee orientation, quality improvement, or computer use.
  • Recommend or authorize capital expenditures for acquisition of new equipment or property to increase efficiency and services of operations department.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Transportation Managers.

  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Transportation Managers.

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