Transportation is an exciting field to pursue so a course in some related field like supply chain or logistics is very useful. It’s a growing sector with immense opportunities so here’s how to plan.

The American transportation sector holds a market capitalization of $78.5 billion. The trucking sector generates $875.5 billion annually. Jobs in the transportation sector increased by 8.2% in 2022. It is forecasted to increase by 6% year-to-year up to 2031. Careers in the sector range from drivers to pilots, traffic controllers, logistics, and records keepers. The best courses for the industry depend on your career desires. You can complete a course in project, purchasing, quality, or safety management. Transportation courses are offered at numerous American colleges and institutions. You can enroll in any of these schools if you wish to work in the industry.

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Shoreline Community College

Shoreline Community College offers a two-year degree in purchasing and Supply Chain Management. The degree was developed to support students to learn and find work after graduation. Enrollment requires applicants to fulfill the following prerequisites at the time of application.

  • High school certificate or equivalent
  • At least 50% mark at Standard Grade
  • Minimum 40% in English
  • Must be able to achieve 93 to 96 credits

The college is popular for offering excellent technical programs. It was started in 1962 and is managed under the Washington State education guidelines. The college ranks number 13 across the US based on the Open Doors report. It admits both local and international students. The university surpasses many institutions in the US in terms of high student-to-faculty ratios. It has a ratio of 14:1 and more than 5,300 students are admitted there.

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Highline College

The Business, Hospitality & Tourism Degree Pathway at Highline College prepares students to work in import and export transportation logistics. The Pathway offers certificates, associate and bachelor degrees. Students learn about logistics, freight forward, imports/exports, and international trade. The college is also the site of Washington state's Center of Excellence for Global Trade & Supply Chain Management.

To help learners understand the course better, teachers engage them in writing essays. The student must gather information from different sources for success in their research paper. The main skills gained by the end of the course include the following.

  • Understand the roles of a freight forwarder
  • Principles of warehousing and distribution
  • Features of imports/exports transactions
  • Career chances in the trade and logistics sector
  • Concepts, tools, logistics, and processes of international trade

All students admitted there may apply for different types of scholarships and financing. Based on university rankings the school is in the list of leading 150 community colleges in the country. Diploma and certificate programs take two years. All teaching is done in English and international students may opt to take the course online.

The University of Alabama

The University of Alabama ranks number 801 in the World University Ranking. It was founded in 1831 and has a student population of 38,000. The school offers a bachelor’s degree in operations management. The course is full-time and a student must complete 120 credit hours. International students get a chance for scholarships and to take online courses. Learners can advance to master in operations management. Career options for the course include:

  • Operations Manager
  • Business analyst
  • Quality control manager
  • Materials specialist
  • Inventory manager
  • Logistics analyst
  • Operations Supervisor
  • DePaul University

DePaul University is managed by the Catholic Church. It was started in 1898 and began admitting women in 1911. It has a student population of 25,000. The school offers degree courses in transportation and logistics. A student may opt for a degree in Supply Chain Management or Public Service Management.

Based on the school’s statistics, 92% of graduates get jobs within 6 months after graduation. The school is on the list of best universities based on Forbes ranking. It offers online study and face-to-face learning. The following practical knowledge is provided through the courses:

  • Business operations
  • Procurement
  • Accounting and production
  • Logistics
  • Transportation and inventory demands
  • Public relations
  • Strategic management

Graduates can work as purchasing agents, operations, purchasing, or production managers. The program requires learners to complete 120 credits. This includes 60 credits studying general education. The course takes three years to complete.

Arizona State University

Arizona State University is one of the best schools to study supply chain management. It tops the list of the largest institutions of higher education in the US. The school opened in 1885 and maintains about 64,700 learners annually. Successful applicants can request for scholarships of $2,000 maximum. Scholarship applications must be accompanied by essays. A student may decide to advance to a master of business administration with a major in supply chain management. The skills gained include:

  • Specific functions of the supply chain
  • Strategic relationships
  • Purchasing, warehousing, and inventory control
  • Transportation and contract negotiations
  • Importation/exportation and trade sustainability
  • International supply chain management

Gateway Technical College

Gateway Technical College offers an associate in supply chain management. The school seeks to fill the gaps created in the supply chain sector globally. With more than 21,000 students currently residing there, it was founded in 1911. The course gives students training in transportation, logistics, and leadership. The program focuses on procurement of goods, transportation, and operations. Students get equipped with soft skills such as decision-making, and problem solving. Career options after graduation include:

  • Supply chain manager
  • Claims Specialist
  • Purchasing manager/assistant
  • Inventory Specialist
  • Receiving manager
  • Transportation coordinator or planner
  • Logistics technician

Applicants must get a GPA of 2.6 and a college GPA of 2.0 in order to enroll in the college. The need to build skills in writing essays and research papers. Once admitted, candidates may apply for funding. When approved, they can enjoy up to $6,000 in scholarships throughout the two-year course.

Purdue University

Purdue University ranks number 56 in the US based on the News & World Report rankings. It was started in 1869 and has a student population of 41,500. Statistics from the university show 98% of graduates get jobs within six months. This is one of the factors that contribute to the school receiving many applications each year. PU has an acceptance rate of 68.8%.

Applicants need to have an above-average GPA of 3.69. The school offers a Bachelor of Science in industrial distribution. The university helps learners get internships locally and globally. The course is designed to help students get the skills required to work in the distribution sector. They learn about work organization, sales and marketing, and HR management. Career options for graduates include:

  • Procurement/purchasing manager
  • Warehousing and material handling manager
  • Supply chain and distribution manager
  • Logistics analyst
  • Industrial sales engineer

Michigan State University

Michigan State University is a public institution located in Michigan State. It offers a 4-year degree in transportation and distribution. It was started in 1855 and has a student population of 50,300. It is preferred by many students who want to learn about manufacturing, processing, distribution, and transportation. A student learns supply chain components such as:

  • Manufacturing operations
  • Purchasing
  • Physical distribution
  • Transportation

The school’s Department of Transportation and Distribution ranks number 1 in the US. It is also a global leader in the transportation sector’s education. A student must be prepared to complete 15 credits per semester and learn up to 8 semesters. Students taking online courses can customize their study time and agree to take more time to complete the course. Career options include:

  • Freight and material movement analyst, engineer, or logistician
  • Warehousing and distribution operations
  • Logistics and transportation engineer, specialist, or analyst
  • Air transportation including transportation pilot, commercial pilot, or air traffic controller
  • Rail line transportation jobs
  • Water transportation jobs
  • Public transportation jobs

Harper College

Harper College is a public community college located in Illinois State. It was started in 1965 and has a student population of 7,400. It offers several courses related to the airline and transportation sector. The field is in high demand for workers at different levels. A student can learn to build climate-resilient transportation systems. They learn about automation in transportation, roadway design, and construction.

A student may also apply to study applied science degree in supply chain management. Main courses include air, land, and water transportation. Commercial pilot courses take two to three years. The school also offers a track drive training program. Both local and international students get up to $9,000 in scholarships. Applicants need to complete application essays. They must record good results in research papers and exams. Graduates can work in departments such as:

  • Warehouse operations
  • Transportation
  • Material handling
  • Order fulfillment
  • Airport cargo logistics
  • Air traffic control
  • Aeronautical engineer
  • Flight attendant

Conclusion

The transportation sector in the US is highly competitive but also widely fragmented. There are a large number of trucking, freight, logistics, and broker services in the country. Many junior and senior job positions in the sector open daily. A student wishing to work in the sector has the option of a wide range of courses. They can join a university or college to study airline, road, railway, or water transportation. The courses take from 2 years to 4 years depending on the course level and school. Some of the schools offer attractive scholarships.