Careers in Transportation and Logistics Management

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, transportation and logistics management is the second largest employment sector in the United States. In fact, transportation and logistics management is at the core of global supply chain management, encompassing manufacturing, distribution, retailing, recreation, and national security. National and global disasters such as the massive earthquakes of 2010 in Haiti and Chile focus on transportation and logistics management as the foundation for response and recovery to mitigate their tragic consequences. Careers in transportation and logistics management offer opportunities in not only a variety of transportation modes with global carriers, but with private and public sector organizations whose success depends on the global fulfillment of customers’ requirements. The technology of the 21st Century has truly revolutionized transportation and logistics management. The movement of information has become as important as the movement of goods and people, making it an exciting career for ambitious men and women.

Overview

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Useful Skills Within the Transportation and Logistics Field

Problem solving
Strong work ethic
Organizational skills
Communication skills
Project management
Ability to work under pressure
Ability to complete a task quickly
Ability to think quickly on your feet
Works well in high pressure environment
Ability to make strong decisions in a timely manor
Ability to remain focused on the tasks at hand in noisy environment

Careers

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Career Options

Below you can browse possible positions within the transportation and logistics management majors. This degree program can lead to many career fields; however, it does not automatically make you qualified. As with all majors, the education you receive serves as a foundation of knowledge that prepares you for what you may face in the professional world. The career field you chose may require additional education or experience. To identify what education or training is necessary for careers within the transportation and logistics field, use the O*Net hyperlinks below and click on “Job Zone.” In addition, seek out the advice of fellow students and alumni working in the industry, using our mentoring program on The Quad (for current students and alumni only) or by speaking with a career coach.

Air Traffic Controllers
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
Airfield Operations Specialists
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants
Aviation Inspectors
Bridge and Lock Tenders
Bus Drivers, School or Special Client
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
Commercial Pilots
Conveyor Operators and Tenders
Crane and Tower Operators
Dredge Operators
Driver/Sales Workers
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators
First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
Flight Attendants
Freight and Cargo Inspectors
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Hoist and Winch Operators
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers
Loading Machine Operators, Underground Mining
Locomotive Engineers
Locomotive Firers
Machine Feeders and Offbearers
Material Moving Workers, All Other
Mates- Ship, Boat, and Barge
Mine Shuttle Car Operators
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other
Motorboat Operators
Packers and Packagers, Hand
Parking Lot Attendants
Pilots, Ship
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Rail Transportation Workers, All Other
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Recycling Coordinators
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
Sailors and Marine Oilers
Ship and Boat Captains
Ship Engineers
Subway and Streetcar Operators
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs
Traffic Technicians
Transportation Attendants, Except Flight Attendants
Transportation Inspectors
Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
Transportation Workers, All Other
Wellhead Pumpers

Getting Started: Internships

Gaining real life experience is an ideal way to start a new career. Below are a few examples of places that offer internships for both graduate and undergraduate transportation and logistics management students:

Walgreens
Hub Group
JBHunt
DHL

In addition to the organizations mentioned above, there are government organized internship programs which provide students or recent graduates the opportunity to gain real life experience. Many require students to maintain either a half-time or full-time student status. The best way to identify potential opportunities such as these is to contact branch offices directly, to search USAJobs.gov, or to look at the agencies career portal. Keep in mind these positions are not always posted online, so direct contact with the agency is key.

Pathways

The Pathways Program is a federal initiative that offers internship programs for current students and training and career development opportunities for recent graduates. Recent graduates must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion (except for veterans, due to their military service obligation, will have up to six years to apply).The internship program for current students replaces the former Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP).

The Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF)

PMF is designed to attract to federal service outstanding men and women from a wide variety of academic disciplines who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs. To be eligible for nomination, an individual must be a graduate student completing or expected to complete, during the current academic year, an advanced degree from a qualifying college or university.

The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)

WRP is coordinated by the Office of Disability Employment Policy and the U.S. Department of Defense, and aims to provide summer work experience, and in some cases full-time employment, to college students with disabilities. The program develops partnerships with other federal agencies, each of whom makes a commitment to provide summer jobs and a staff recruiter. Each year, recruiters interview about 1,500 students with disabilities at college and university campuses across the nation, and develop a database listing the qualifications of each student.

Getting Hired: Government Agencies, Organizations and Search Engines

There are several government agencies and organizations that seek candidates with degrees in transportation and logistics management. The below list provides a few example places one might find employment using their degree.

Federal Aviation Administration
Hub Group
UPS
Transportation Security Administration
Department of Transportation
Surface Transportation Board
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

LogJobs
JobsInLogistics.com
DHL Express
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Amazon
Various Airlines
Local Railroad Commissions
State Transportation Departments

Connect

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Keeping Current: Publications and Professional Organizations

Involvement in professional organizations is a great way to stay up to date on new technology, tools, and best practices in your field. Professional organizations are also a great networking opportunity. Below are a few professional organizations and publications you may be interested in within the transportation and logistics field.

American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)
American Society of Transportation and Logistics (ASTL)
The Association for Operations Management (APICS)
Intelligence Transportation Society of America (ITSA)
International Air Cargo Association (IACA)
International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA)
International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA)
National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)
National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA)
National Industrial Transportation League (NITL)
Transportation Research Board (TRB)