What Do Transportation Managers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Transportation Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the transportation operations within an organization or the activities of organizations that provide transportation services. They also plan, organize, or manage the work of subordinate staff to ensure that the work is accomplished in a manner consistent with organizational requirements.

Other tasks include:

• Direct activities related to dispatching, routing, or tracking transportation vehicles, such as aircraft or railroad cars.
• Monitor operations to ensure that staff members comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, union contracts, environmental policies, or government regulations.
• Serve as contact persons for all workers within assigned territories.
• Implement schedule or policy changes for transportation services.
• Monitor spending to ensure that expenses are consistent with approved budgets.
• Promote safe work activities by conducting safety audits, attending company safety meetings, or meeting with individual staff members.

We asked Transportation Managers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Transportation Managers supervise clerks assigning tariff classifications or preparing billing. They direct central load control centers to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of transportation services.

A typical day for a Transportation Manager will also include:

• Plan, organize, or manage the work of subordinate staff to ensure that the work is accomplished in a manner consistent with organizational requirements.
• Monitor operations to ensure that staff members comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, union contracts, environmental policies, or government regulations.
• Direct or coordinate the activities of operations department to obtain use of equipment, facilities, or human resources.
• Serve as contact persons for all workers within assigned territories.
• Direct activities related to dispatching, routing, or tracking transportation vehicles, such as aircraft or railroad cars.

We asked some Transportation Managers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	79% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	98% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	49% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	11% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	80% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Transportation Managers also analyze expenditures and other financial information to develop plans, policies, or budgets for increasing profits or improving services. They may also direct investigations to verify and resolve customer or shipper complaints.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Transportation Managers Provide administrative or technical assistance to those receiving transportation-related grants. They might also Develop or implement plans to improve transportation services control from regional to national or global load control center operations.

In addition, they Promote safe work activities by conducting safety audits, attending company safety meetings, or meeting with individual staff members.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Direct staff performing repairs and maintenance to equipment, vehicles, or facilities.

To some Transportation Managers, it is also their responsibility to Collaborate with other managers or staff members to formulate and implement policies, procedures, goals, or objectives.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Transportation Manager, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

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