Transportation and Distribution

- Air Transportation and Distribution
  
  Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science, Air Traffic Control, Airline Flight Attendant...
- Ground Transportation
  
  Heavy Equipment Operation, Truck, Bus and Commercial Driver...
- Marine Transportation
  
  Merchant Marine Officer, Professional Diver...

Are you interested in the logistics required to transport freight from manufacturer to consumer? Would you like to drive a truck, work on cargo ship or manage exports and imports? If so, a career in transportation and distribution may be right for you. Read on for more information!

Inside Transportation and Distribution

Education in fields pertaining to the transportation and distribution industries can lead to a variety of careers in air, rail, water and truck transportation. Truck driving is one of the largest occupations in this field, transporting almost every product sold nationally. Other career possibilities in transportation and distribution include cargo and freight agent, import and export specialist, cargo handler, train engineer, distribution manager and logistics analyst.

Education requirements vary by field and position. Typically, truck drivers are required to complete training courses and earn their commercial driver's license (CDL). Depending on their cargo, they also may need additional training and endorsements. Air, water and rail transportation employees may complete an approved training or degree program, though some employers allow workers to work their way up the ranks with just work experience. Coursework in formal education programs varies by industry, for example, aviation maintenance technology students can expect to take courses such as ground handling, corrosion control and aircraft generators.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the truck, rail, water and air transportation industries are all expected to see employment growth from 2008-2018 (www.bls.gov). However, water transportation is predicted to see the greatest growth, at 15%, during this time period.

Learn More About Transportation and Distribution

Transportation and distribution are extremely diverse fields with a wide variety of training requirements. To learn more about how to break into one of these fields, Education-Portal.com offers a variety of articles on the educational, career and Internet training options that are available.

Degree Options

There are many certification and degree options available in the fields of transportation and distribution. The specific degree you need to earn depends on the position and field you want to enter. Some possible degree programs include:

Career Options

There are many different careers you can pursue with an educational background in transportation and distribution, including the following:

Distance Learning Options

If you wish to earn a degree or diploma online, there are some programs available. However, because of the hands-on nature of these professions, you may be required to go on campus at times.