Transportation and Materials Moving
Ground Transportation
Colleges award this field under 7 named programs, from Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation to Ground Transportation, Other.
Inside the major
Programs within this field
Colleges may offer this field under 7 more specific program names. The program you choose affects the courses you take.
- Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation
- Prepares you to apply technical knowledge and skills to operate and maintain a variety of heavy equipment, such as a crawler tractors, motor graders and scrapers, shovels, rigging devices, hoists, and jacks. Covers digging, ditching, sloping, stripping, grading, and backfiling, clearing and excavating.
- Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor
- Prepares you to apply technical knowledge and skills to drive trucks and buses, delivery vehicles, for-hire vehicles and other commercial vehicles, or to instruct commerical vehicle operators. Covers operating gas, diesel, or electrically-powered vehicles; loading and unloading cargo or passengers; reporting delays or accidents on the road; verifying load against shipping papers; arranging transportation for personnel; and keeping records of receipts and fares.
- Mobil Crane Operator/Operation
- Prepares you to hoist and swing loads via complex rotating machinery that is driver operated. Covers crane operational characteristics, load and capacity chart usage, emergency control skills, safety, specific types of mobile cranes and loading devices, applicable codes and standards, and applications to particular types of jobs and loads.
- Flagging and Traffic Control
- Prepares you to control the movement of traffic through construction and maintenance zones and to protect the safety of work crews, drivers, and pedestrians. Covers flagging duties and responsibilities, the traffic control zone, flagging signals, pavement markers, freeway flagging, utility flagging, emergency response flagging, and night traffic control.
- Railroad and Railway Transportation
- Prepares you to apply technical knowledge and skills to the operation of railroads and other aspects of the railway industry, including railroad and railyard service. Covers railway culture, operating skills, General Code of Operation rules, conductor service, signal systems, switching, transportation of hazardous materials, safety, and railway telecommunications systems.
- Forklift Operation/Operator
- Prepares you to operate forklifts in a variety of work environments. Covers accident prevention, forklift operation, materials handling, and worksite safety.
- Ground Transportation, Other
- Vehicle and equipment operation not listed above.
Also called Crane and Hoist Operator, Crane and Hoisting Equipment Operator, Crane Operator, Mobile Crane Operator
Also called Railway Operations, Railroad Conductor, Locomotive Engineer, Brakeman/Brakewoman, Railway Dispatcher, Yardmaster, Railroad Maintenance of Way Welding
Where it can lead
Careers this field can lead to
Explore related careers, starting with the closest connections and the occupations hiring the most people.
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- 1.5%
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Explore this careerAll work is projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035; read every hiring-change figure against it.
Working style
How and where the work happens
Related careers can feel very different from one another. Compare the specific occupations to understand the work each one involves.
This field leads to a mix of in-person and computer-based work. About 21 of every 100 openings require working close to other people or spending time on your feet.