Transportation Managers

Background

Each year, the military transports thousands of service men and women and tons of material to bases across the US and overseas. Ships, aircraft, trucks, buses, and trains are all part of the military's transportation system. Transportation managers direct the transport of military personnel and material by air, road, rail, and water.

What They Do

Transportation managers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Coordinate transfer of cargo between different modes of transportation (rail, air, water, etc.)
• Coordinate with commercial shippers and host country transportation services
• Determine the fastest and most economical way to transport cargo or personnel
• Direct the loading of freight and passengers
• Direct the packing and crating of cargo
• Oversee the handling of special items, such as medicine and explosives
• Schedule pick-up and delivery of shipments
• Schedule shipments to ensure fast and timely deliveries
• See that transport forms, records, and reports are prepared correctly

Physical Demands

No information available.

Special Requirements

A four-year college degree is normally required to enter this career.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to work under tight schedules
• Interest in planning and directing the work of others

Helpful School Subjects

No information available.

Helpful Fields of Study

Helpful fields of study include:

• Business administration
• Logistics
• Operations research
• Public administration
• Supply management
• Transportation management

Work Environment

Transportation managers work in cargo and passenger terminals and depots.

Services offering this career:

• Army
• Coast Guard
• Marine Corps
• Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for officers.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay. 

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Job training consists of between eight and 12 weeks of classroom instruction. Training length varies depending on specialty.

Course content typically includes:

• Applicable military policies and federal/local laws
• Freight classifications
• Handling of special items, such as medicine and explosives
• Transportation management
• Ways to work with civilian and other military service carriers

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian transportation managers work for airlines, railroads, bus lines, trucking companies, and shipping firms. They perform duties similar to those performed by military transportation managers. However, civilian transportation managers normally specialize in one area of transportation, such as air, water, truck, or railroad transportation.

Related Civilian Careers

• General and Operations Managers
• Storage and Transportation Managers

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 4,000 transportation managers. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new managers due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, transportation managers gain experience on the job. In time, they may advance to senior management or command positions in cargo transportation operations.