Transportation Distribution and Logistics Overview | Career Cluster / Industry Video Series

The transportation, distribution, and logistics industry is all about moving people and things from one location to another quickly, safely, and at a low cost. Transportation methods include aircraft, railroads, waterways, over-the-road, and through pipelines, as well as warehousing and storage. Workers in this industry design transportation systems, operate or repair equipment, plan how to move materials, and take care of storing products.

Quick Facts

The industry employs over 5 million workers, approximately 3.6 percent of total U.S. jobs.
Trucks deliver nearly 70 percent of all freight in the U.S.
The most commonly shipped items are food, clothing, furniture, and electronics.
The U.S. spends more than $ 1.64 trillion on transportation logistics annually.

Employment Outlook

Despite the prospect of driverless trucks moving freight down highways in the next 10 to 15 years, there remain many current job openings in transportation and warehousing. There is a strong need for workers expected in the coming years. Experts estimate that there are 50,000 truck driver jobs unfilled, and trucking-related roles account for about one-third of the job openings in the industry.

Additionally, there are many openings available and expected in the future for school and public transit bus drivers, forklift operators, stock movers, and distribution warehousing workers. A wave of retirements in railroad and maritime workers will create further openings. Most careers in transportation and logistics pay wages that are higher than the national median.

Key Metropolitan Areas

For those seeking employment, pay special attention to these metropolitan areas where growth is expected to be robust:

New York City
Dallas
Los Angeles
Houston
Chicago

Automation in the Industry

Automation helps make aspects of the industry more efficient. Barcodes track goods for shipping and distribution, while pilots of ships and aircraft rely on automated navigation equipment to operate safely. GPS technology is heavily utilized in many jobs, although workers need to troubleshoot changing conditions and make adjustments often more quickly than technology can.

Keywords

Transportation Industry
Logistics
Freight
Warehousing
Truck Drivers
Automation
Employment Outlook
Metropolitan Growth
GPS Technology
Maritime Workers

FAQ

Q1: How many people are employed in the transportation distribution and logistics industry? A1: The industry employs over 5 million workers, which is about 3.6 percent of total U.S. jobs.

Q2: What percentage of freight delivery in the U.S. is done by trucks? A2: Trucks deliver nearly 70 percent of all freight in the U.S.

Q3: What are some of the most commonly shipped items in this industry? A3: The most commonly shipped items are food, clothing, furniture, and electronics.

Q4: How much does the U.S. spend on transportation logistics annually? A4: The U.S. spends more than $ 1.64 trillion on transportation logistics annually.

Q5: Are there many job openings in the transportation and warehousing sectors? A5: Yes, there are many current and future job openings, especially for truck drivers, school and public transit bus drivers, forklift operators, stock movers, and distribution warehousing workers.

Q6: What technology is heavily relied on in the industry? A6: GPS technology is heavily relied on for many jobs within the industry, although workers often need to make quick adjustments.