Transportation Managers

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

Industry: Management

Other Job Titles for Transportation Managers:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Direct activities related to dispatching, routing, and tracking transportation vehicles such as aircraft and railroad cars.
• Plan, organize and manage the work of subordinate staff to ensure that the work is accomplished in a manner consistent with organizational requirements.
• Direct investigations to verify and resolve customer or shipper complaints.
• Serve as contact persons for all workers within assigned territories.
• Implement schedule and policy changes.
• Collaborate with other managers and staff members to formulate and implement policies, procedures, goals, and objectives.
• Monitor operations to ensure that staff members comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, union contracts, and government regulations.
• Promote safe work activities by conducting safety audits, attending company safety meetings, and meeting with individual staff members.
• Develop criteria, application instructions, procedural manuals, and contracts for federal and state public transportation programs.
• Monitor spending to ensure that expenses are consistent with approved budgets.
• Direct and coordinate, through subordinates, activities of operations department to obtain use of equipment, facilities, and human resources.
• Direct activities of staff performing repairs and maintenance to equipment, vehicles, and facilities.
• Conduct investigations in cooperation with government agencies to determine causes of transportation accidents and to improve safety procedures.
• Analyze expenditures and other financial information to develop plans, policies, and budgets for increasing profits and improving services.
• Negotiate and authorize contracts with equipment and materials suppliers, and monitor contract fulfillment.
• Supervise workers assigning tariff classifications and preparing billing.
• Set operations policies and standards, including determination of safety procedures for the handling of dangerous goods.
• Recommend or authorize capital expenditures for acquisition of new equipment or property to increase efficiency and services of operations department.
• Prepare management recommendations, such as proposed fee and tariff increases or schedule changes.
• Conduct employee training sessions on subjects such as hazardous material handling, employee orientation, quality improvement and computer use.
• Participate in union contract negotiations and settlements of grievances.
• Provide administrative and technical assistance to those receiving transportation-related grants.
• Direct procurement processes including equipment research and testing, vendor contracts, and requisitions approval.
• Negotiate short- and long-term loans to finance construction and ownership of structures.
• Contract with architectural firms to draw up detailed plans for new structures.
• Negotiate with government leaders, businesses, special interest representatives, and utility companies to gain support for new projects and to eliminate potential obstacles.
• Analyze information on property values, taxes, zoning, population growth, and traffic volume and patterns to determine if properties should be acquired.
• Promote the industries and products of their electoral districts.
• Represent their government at local, national, and international meetings and conferences.
• Speak to students to encourage and support the development of future political leaders.
• Harvest crops, and collect specialty products such as royal jelly, wax, pollen, and honey from bee colonies.
• Install and shift irrigation systems to irrigate fields evenly or according to crop need.
• Herd cattle, using horses or all-terrain vehicles.
• Destroy diseased or superfluous crops.

Emerging Tasks

• Monitor inventory levels of products or materials in warehouses.
• Provide direct service and support to individuals or clients, such as handling a referral for child advocacy issues, conducting a needs evaluation, and resolving complaints.
• Formulate strategic plans for the institution.
• Oversee facilities management for the university, including construction, repair, and maintenance projects.
• Promote the university by participating in community, state, and national events/meetings, and by developing partnerships with industry and secondary education institutions.
• Write grants to procure external funding, and supervise grant-funded projects.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• adhere to safety procedures
• analyze financial data
• analyze operational or management reports or records
• analyze organizational operating practices or procedures
• assign work to staff or employees
• communicate technical information
• compile information on findings from investigation of accidents
• conduct or attend staff meetings
• develop budgets
• develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• direct and coordinate highway transportation activities
• enforce laws, ordinances, or regulations
• estimate time or cost for installation, repair, or construction projects
• explain rules, policies or regulations
• inspect commercial vehicles
• inspect facilities to determine repair or replacement needs
• inspect transportation equipment for damage or defects
• investigate customer complaints
• manage contracts
• monitor repairs or maintenance to enforce standards
• negotiate business contracts
• negotiate labor agreements
• order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
• oversee activities related to dispatching, routing, or tracking transportation vehicles
• oversee execution of organizational or program policies
• oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
• perform safety inspections in transportation setting
• provide customer service
• provide customer service in surface transportation
• recommend improvements to work methods or procedures
• recommend purchase, repair, or modification of equipment
• recommend solutions of administrative problems
• resolve customer or public complaints
• resolve personnel problems or grievances
• review traffic routing or control plans
• supervise clerical or administrative personnel
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use conflict resolution techniques
• use established traffic or transportation procedures
• use freight shipping or storage procedures
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use local or regional geographical knowledge to transportation
• use negotiation techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use conflict resolution techniques
• use facility management techniques
• use government regulations
• use knowledge of environmental laws and regulations
• use knowledge of fire, building or other codes
• use marketing techniques
• use negotiation techniques
• prepare or maintain employee records
• prepare reports for management
• present information on human resource management issues
• recommend action to ensure compliance
• recommend personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, and dismissals
• recruit employees
• resolve personnel problems or grievances
• resolve worker or management conflicts
• seek out applicants to fill job openings
• use conflict resolution techniques
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of employee classification system
• use negotiation techniques
• use project management techniques
• write employee orientation or training materials
• schedule activities, classes, or events
• schedule employee work hours
• slaughter animals, fish, or poultry
• study production records
• transport passengers or cargo
• understand second language
• use animal disease control techniques
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use fish culturing techniques
• use hand or power tools
• use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use plant disease control techniques

Overall Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

• n/a

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 8.35%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 7,847
• Employment (2006): 94,012

• First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Office and Administrative Support Workers
• First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
• Mates- Ship, Boat, and Barge
• Purchasing Agents and Buyers, Farm Products
• Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
• Storage and Distribution Managers
• Surveyors
• Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
• Travel Guides
• Treasurers and Controllers