bearded man wearing overalls walking next to a train

Managers in transportation

(NOC 0731)
High opportunity occupation High opportunity occupation
Annual Earnings
$91,975
Typical Education Background
Diploma/Certificate Excluding Apprenticeship
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
3,040

Career Overview

Managers in transportation:

  • Plan, organize and direct the operations of transportation companies such as railways, airlines, bus lines, municipal transit systems, shipping lines and trucking companies, under the direction of a general manager or other senior manager
  • Plan, organize and direct companies or departments responsible for the transportation and movement of goods, under the direction of a general manager or other senior manager
  • Work for transportation, freight forwarding and shipping companies and for transportation departments of companies in retail and manufacturing sectors and utilities

Duties

Managers in transportation operations:

  • Plan, organize and direct the operations of a transportation company
  • Set operations policies and standards, including determination of safety procedures for the handling of dangerous goods, and ensure compliance with transport regulations
  • Oversee dispatch of vehicles, vessels or aircraft
  • Control the company or departmental budget
  • Oversee company's or department's performance, prepare reports for senior management, and plan for changes to schedules and policies
  • Hire employees and oversee their training

Managers in transportation freight traffic:

  • Plan, organize and direct the activities of companies or departments responsible for co-ordinating, arranging and monitoring the transportation and movement of goods
  • Arrange for shipping documentation and oversee the scheduling and dispatching of goods and the tracking and tracing of goods in transit
  • Set performance goals, oversee the setting of transportation service rates and oversee revenue
  • Develop plans and procedures for the transportation and storage of goods
  • Negotiate with carriers, warehouse operators and insurance company representatives for services and preferential rates
  • Control the departmental budget
  • Hire employees and oversee their training

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$91,975

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$72.82/hr
Median$44.10/hr
Low$26.44/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

5,300

% Employed Full Time

73%
Source: 2016 Census

Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office.

Career Pathways

There is little or no mobility between transportation managers, operations and transportation managers, freight traffic.

There is little or no mobility between transportation managers of land, sea and air transportation operations.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Enterprising
Enterprising

Job Titles

Captain, port / shore - water transport
Corporate transportation
Cruise ship line manager
Freight forwarder
Manager, cartage / freight / moving
Manager, corporate traffic
Manager, distribution / warehousing
Manager, ferry operations
Manager, marine transportation operations
Manager, railway / passenger operations
Manager, shipping and warehousing
Tow truck company manager

Education, Training and Skills

Managers in transportation operations:

  • A bachelor's degree in business administration or engineering is usually required
  • Several years of experience in transportation operations are usually required, including supervisory experience
  • Extensive experience as a supervisor and operator in a particular transport mode, such as a pilot, train engineer, vessel master or truck driver, may substitute for formal education
  • Certification as an operator of a particular mode of transportation, such as commercial pilot, vessel master or truck driver, is usually required

Managers in transportation freight traffic:

  • Completion of secondary school is required
  • A college diploma or university degree in business or transportation administration may be required
  • Several years of clerical, operational or administrative experience related to freight traffic are required

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Business Administration/Management/Commerce
  • Civil Engineering Technology Related
  • Computer Engineering Related
  • Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering
  • Engineering Science
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

73%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

73%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

72%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

72%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

71%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

71%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

68%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

66%
Management of Personnel Resources

Motivating, developing and directing people as they work, and identifying the best people for the job.

65%
Time Management

Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

64%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

5,300
Source: 2016 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Employment (2022) % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 160 2.7%
Kootenay 100 1.5%
Mainland/Southwest 4,570 71.9%
North Coast and Nechako 160 2.0%
Northeast 130 2.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 730 9.3%
Vancouver Island/Coast 600 10.6%
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2022-2032)

3,040
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2022-2032)

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 10 0.0%
Kootenay 0 0.0%
Mainland/Southwest 2,110 1.1%
North Coast and Nechako 90 1.2%
Northeast 60 1.4%
Thompson-Okanagan 400 1.3%
Vancouver Island/Coast 310 1.1%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2022-2032)
Transportation and Warehousing53,400
Wholesale Trade33,100
Public Administration49,200
Manufacturing49,200
Construction72,700
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources

Resource information is currently not available.