Community colleges put higher education close to where you live, work, and play. There are many reasons community colleges are attractive. They have an open admissions policy and offer many courses, including courses that will help prepare you for a bright future in the transportation industry. Their low tuition helps keep higher education within the reach of many Americans. These factors make community college a good place to go to gain job skills.
Many jobs in the transportation industry require only a high school education, although an increasing number of workers have at least some college education. Increased emphasis on formal education stems from increased complexity in the industry. Nearly all operations involve computers and information management systems.
A growing number of employers in warehousing and logistics recommend some form of formal training either in-house or through trade or union programs. Most intercity bus companies and local-transit systems give driver trainees 2 to 8 weeks of classroom and "behind-the-wheel" instruction. Railroads require that applicants have a minimum of a high school diploma or its equivalent.
For managerial jobs in the transportation industry, employers prefer persons with bachelor's degrees in business, marketing, accounting, industrial relations, or economics. Although most managers must learn logistics through extensive training on the job, several universities offer graduate and undergraduate programs in logistics.
Many workers choose a community college when they want to upgrade their skills or to enter a new field. It is now common for a person with a college degree to attend a community college to update work skills. Community colleges are also flexible. Nearly 50 percent of their students work full time, so they offer courses at convenient times.
What Do You Want to Do Next?
Find community colleges that offer training/programs in transportation:
The U.S. Department of Education has a web site, Prepare for My Future, which gives you some questions you'll want to ask. There are many schools to choose from. You can use this web site to help you choose the right school to meet your career goals.
Finally, there are different certifications available via the Certification Finder.
Whatever you decide, you are in the driver's seat!
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