Beyond simply moving people, transportation brings supplies to producers and goods to consumers. As a critical part of the nation's economy, job seekers can be assured there could be a consistent need for transportation professionals. Not only are operators needed to drive trucks and fly planes, construction workers create the infrastructure for these modes of transportation while engineers help design the projects or even the new technology that might be used for transit systems. In addition, mechanics provide diagnostic and repair services to ensure transportation equipment continues to operate smoothly and safely. Online transportation programs offer the opportunity to train for these and other occupations within this growing industry. While transportation jobs are available in many forms, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics found that, in 2009, more than 50 percent of transportation employment could be found in the trucking industry, while 18-plus percent could be found in the airlines sector.
Transportation Online Colleges
The level of education needed for employment in the transportation sector is largely dependent upon the career in question. Engineers and design professionals may require a bachelor or master's degree in a field such as civil engineering. Pilots and flight engineers may also need a college degree. Meanwhile, professions such as truck drivers and auto mechanics might only require vocational training before individuals are ready to begin work. For some careers, online transportation degrees hold promise. For example, a diploma-based program in auto mechanics is available online and can help you to gain the skills to maintain automotive vehicles, a substantial component of the transportation industry. If you investigate further, you can also find online diesel repair programs, which supply you with valuable knowledge for maintaining and repairing many of the larger transportation vehicles found on today's roads, such as buses and trucks. You can also find some online transportation programs that lead to a CDL Class A license and enable you to become a truck driver but that also require an on ground component to meet the required driving hours.
Online transportation programs can also help lead to middle-class incomes often while making less than a two-year investment in education. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wages for transportation professionals in 2010 were $38,200 for auto mechanics while for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists they were $42,250. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earned mean annual wages of $39,450. However, this latter career field could be advantageous because it is predicted to experience higher growth -- 14 percent -- from 2008 to 2018, than the other mentioned career fields. Of course, there are a variety of other online transportation programs that could lead you to an advanced education as well as advanced wages. Some to look for are programs for aerospace engineers, air traffic controllers and avionics technicians; however, many or most of these online programs should also have an on-ground hands-on component.
