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Transportation Managers

Each year, the military transports thousands of service men and women and tons of material to bases across the U.S. and overseas. Ships, aircraft, trucks, buses, vans, 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:

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

Training Provided:

Job training consists of classroom instruction. Training length varies depending on specialty. Course content typically includes:

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

Work Environment:

Transportation managers work in cargo and passenger terminals and depots.

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.

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