It is everyone’s dream to have a nice job and home. But with the rising inflation and downward spiral motion of the economy, jobs and businesses are becoming shy. Many suspects that it will not be a long time when many things we take for granted today would become a rarity.
Still, if you are on the lookout and have a driving license, you can do much better than others – even when you don’t have other skills. Although autonomous vehicles are becoming more understandable, it would take a long time for driverless vehicles to take over the roads.
Driving is a lucrative job option for those who are not afraid to be alone and can drive across state lines.
In this article, we will go through some of the high-paying transportation jobs that are available to those who can bear the burden of the job.
What Does It Mean To Have A Transportation Job?
Transportation job is not like anything else in the market. It has its unique set of problems that require a specific mindset to get around from day one to beyond.
If a person thinks that he is systematic, objective, and direct with added qualities of being able to follow direct rules and orders, then a job in transportation is indeed for that person.
Keep in mind that it is not as simple as sitting behind the wheel all day and then making truck stops during the night to have a romantic encounter with a damsel in distress.
In most cases, transportation job requires;
- Working with tools and equipment to repair broken-down engines and other pieces of machinery
- Leading group by coordinating with them along the route, making sure everyone is moving according to the plan
- Operating in an independent or semi-dependent capacity where professionals have to make rational decisions quickly
There are many avenues to pursue a career in transportation. Most people start as drivers or operators. As they gain experience and expertise, they get the chance to work in higher positions such as supervisory roles, trainers, instructors, etc.
So, if you are eyeing a role in the transportation industry for the long haul, you might have a great opportunity to earn good money.
Are Transportation Jobs All About Truck Driving?
There is no doubt that truck driving makes a big bulk of driving jobs in the transportation sector but that’s not all. From commercial pilots to crane operators and lift operators in the mountainous areas, all come under this category.
Still, trucking or truck driving is a big part of the transportation sector. So in this section, let us go through the nitty-gritty details of the profession of truck driving.
- Trucks are usually the biggest class of vehicles on the road. To get a perspective, the average weight of trucks moving around the interstate roads is 4500 kg
- These vehicles are of three common types, tractor-trailer, long combination, and straight-body trucks
- Truck drivers need to be on top of the needed paperwork so they can move cargo across the state and interstate lines without running into trouble
- It would not be an overstatement to say that truck drivers need to be more than just truck drivers and more like mechanics. It is because they need to inspect the machinery of trucks such as brakes, storage, lights, etc.
- Many times new drivers join other drivers and become a duo to drive to the destination while taking turns on the truck
- Keeping the information of cargo, mileage, insurance papers, etc.
Class 1 License
A Class 1 License, as the name indicates, is the highest license a person can get to drive all kinds of heavy vehicles, including tractor-trailers, long combinations, and other trucks.
In many provinces, aspirants must take an entry-level course before they can apply for the Class 1 License. In addition to this, there could be other requirements such as an air brake endorsement license which is necessary for those who want to drive air brake-operated vehicles.
There are other certifications too, among those the most popular is the Transportation of Hazardous Goods (TDG) Certification.
The Physicality of Transportation Jobs
Even though modern trucks are comfortable and often equipped with the most sophisticated pieces of equipment, operating one and getting it from one place to another takes a lot of time and effort.
For those who are aspiring to become truck drivers in near future, here is a checklist to gauge your physicality against. This will help them in seeing what they are about to do in case they get the job
Here is the rundown of the physically challenged things that drivers or operators will be up against:
- The eyesight should be good enough to have a workable near and far vision, depth perception, as well as a good peripheral vision to drive trucks on roads across the states and border lines
- A workable sense of color discrimination for distinguishing between different traffic lights
- A capacity to interact, take, and give orders, with other drivers and base camp
- Sitting in a small may be claustrophobic, cabin for a long duration of times
- The power to push, pull, move, and lift heavy objects by oneself during the times of crises
Top Paying Jobs In Transportation
Now that we have gone through the prerequisites of most of the transportation jobs available for both experienced professionals and newbies, it is time to go through the top-paying jobs in transportation.
Here is an expansive list:
- Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver
- Transport Driver
- Transportation Coordinator
- Dump Truck Driver
- Owner-Operator Driver
- Van Driver
- Tow Truck Driver
- Bus Driver
Tractor-Trailer Driver
This job involves long hours of driving hauls and extreme focus. It takes inspection of vehicles and procurement of insurance and route certificates to deliver goods and items from one place to another.
Apart from core duties, tractor-trailer drivers maintain a clear line of communication with a wide range of personnel including but not limited to the highway patrol, CB, citizens’ bands, etc to make sure their route is clear to move across.
Annual Average Salary: The national average salary of a tractor-trailer driver is $73,322 per year.
Transport Driver
A transport driver usually operates in short hauls for local transportation routes, even to and fro the interurban routes. One thing that is common in almost all transportation jobs is to take care of the vehicle, and the transport driver is no exception.
Transport drivers run all different kinds of trucks, including tow trucks, hydro-vac trucks, etc.
Also, trucking yards often hire transport drivers to move trucks in urban areas from docks to stations, and so forth.
Annual Average Salary: The national average salary of a transport driver is $48,360 per year.
Transportation Coordinator
Not all transportation jobs are about driving. In the case of a transportation coordinator, it is about reviewing, scheduling, routes, distances, etc. It is on a more sophisticated side of the spectrum when it comes to transportation jobs as it requires using proprietary software for scheduling and so on.
It is a more supervisory role and often experienced truck drivers progress to these careers in transport management.
Annual Average Salary: The national average salary of a transportation coordinator is $53,091 per year.
Dump Truck Driver
Dump truck drivers are the most recognizable truck drivers in urban areas. The job description of dump truck drivers is to pick up junk from households and industrial sites and dump it in landfills and other such sites.
Apart from this, they have to record hours, fuel consumption, as well as other additional information regarding the route and haul.
Annual Average Salary: The national average salary of a dump truck driver is $57,458 per year.
Owner-Operator Driver
Owner-operator drivers are responsible for regional and highway runs. There is the possibility of overnight runs so the trucks must have sleeper cabs.
The salary and other perks of that job depend on the type of material that a driver hauls as well as the route that he takes to deliver the goods. This is one of the highest-paying jobs in transportation and logistics.
Annual Average Salary: The national average salary of an owner-operator driver is $112,908 per year.
Van Driver
In addition to dump truck drivers, van drivers are also one of the most recognizable in the urban setting. From picking up newspapers to bakery and dairy products from the companies and then delivering them to the doorsteps of the clients. Apart from transporting goods and products, they also make and receive payments along the route.
In addition to this, they are also responsible for loading and unloading cargo from the starting point to the destination.
Annual Average Salary: The average national salary of a van driver is $83,756 per year.
Tow Truck Driver
This is another recognizable trade for people who drive cars around and more often than not have a broken car at their hands. Tow truck drivers are responsible to tow other vehicles and deliver them at a stipulated point for repairing or whatever the owner of the broken car wants to do with them.
It is a complex and alert job as they have to move from the station at moment’s notice to hitch other cars along with their vehicles.
Annual Average Salary: The average national salary of a tow truck driver is $56,282 per year.
Bus Driver
Bus drivers include subway drivers and other bus drivers that take passengers from one point to another on a set route. From intercity and intra-city bus drivers to those who pick up and drive school kids from their homes and schools, all come under this category.
It is not a simple job as these drivers have to best urban traffic as well as connect with the dispatch camp to provide developments along the route.
Annual Average Salary: The average national salary of a bus driver is $46,060 per year.
Concluding Remarks
Transportation jobs can be a great match for a person that has already the traits that are in demand in this line or is ready to learn along the way. One thing is clear from this article, these jobs are not as simple as they seem. In addition to their complexity, they can offer lucrative money if someone is willing to put in the hours.
