7 Occupations Where Knowledge of Transportation Principles and Methods Is Important

by Noah Smith

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Transportation, which involves knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits, belongs to the business and management knowledge domain. Business and management is knowledge of principles and facts related to business administration and accounting, human and material resource management in organizations, sales and marketing, economics, and office information and organizing systems. Other knowledge attributes that belong in this group are

Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Economics and Accounting: Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Personnel and Human Resources: Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

The occupations where transportation play a major role are listed below.

Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing, multi-engine aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, National, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.
Median Annual Salary: $103,210 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 8.37%

Air traffic controllers
Air traffic controllers control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers according to established procedures and policies. Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.
Median Annual Salary: $108,040 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 13.05%

Commercial pilots
Commercial pilots pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters. Requires Commercial Pilot certificate. Includes charter pilots with similar certification, and air ambulance and air tour pilots. Excludes regional, National, and international airline pilots.
Median Annual Salary: $67,500 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 18.54%

Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
Aircraft cargo handling supervisors supervise and coordinate the activities of ground crew in the loading, unloading, securing, and staging of aircraft cargo or baggage. They may also determine the quantity and orientation of cargo and compute aircraft center of gravity. They may also accompany aircraft as member of flight crew and monitor and handle cargo in flight, and assist and brief passengers on safety and emergency procedures. Includes loadmasters.
Median Annual Salary: $49,190 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 7.22%

Railroad conductors and yardmasters
Railroad conductors and yardmasters coordinate activities of switch-engine crew within railroad yard, industrial plant, or similar location. Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight trains. Yardmasters review train schedules and switching orders and coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains and yard switching.
Median Annual Salary: $49,770 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 6.9%

Civil engineers
Civil engineers perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures, and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems. Includes architectural, structural, traffic, ocean, and geo-technical engineers.
Median Annual Salary: $77,560 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 24.27%

Bus drivers, transit and intercity
Bus drivers, transit and intercity drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. They may also assist passengers with baggage. They may also collect fares or tickets.
Median Annual Salary: $35,520 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 8.25%