by our College Data Analytics TeamAre you interested in driving vehicles and transporting material goods or people? Do you want to drive large construction vehicles or small commercial trucks? A major in ground transportation may be a good fit for you. This wide-reaching field can lead to a number of different career options.
The transportation field offers careers in busing and public transportation, commercial trucking and heavy machine operation. You could be anything from a long distance truck driver to working heavy machines on a construction site.
Approximately 10 million people work in the ground transportation industry, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many transportation-related careers will see average growth over the next ten years.
When it comes to education, the required skills and education will vary with position, but for most heavy vehicles you will need a commercial driver's license. If you will be transporting hazardous materials, a Hazmat certification will also be needed. Vocational schools offering degrees in ground transportation will teach you about transportation-related rules and regulations, machine operation and safety. They may also receive instruction in basic land surveying techniques and how to work from plans and marking stakes. More advanced degrees will delve into the areas of supply chains and logistics.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BS in Operations Management - Logistics & Transportation
Enhance your Bachelor of Science in Operations Management with a concentration in Logistics and Transportation at Southern New Hampshire University.
In 2021-2022, ground transportation was the 330th most popular major nationwide with 21,480 degrees awarded. Our 2025 Best Ground Transportation Schools ranking analyzes 1 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for ground transportation students. Explore this or one of our many other custom ground transport rankings further below.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BS in Operations Management - Logistics & Transportation
Enhance your Bachelor of Science in Operations Management with a concentration in Logistics and Transportation at Southern New Hampshire University.
Besides educational requirements, you will also need a number of other skills to ensure public safety.
You will need to be in good health and free of conditions that could cause you to lose consciousness or other impairment. You must also have good hand-eye coordination and decent eyesight and hearing - all important traits for working in transportation.
If you plan to work in the public arena, you will also want to have good customer service and interpersonal skills.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic ground transportation program qualifications, to serve in some ground transport careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different ground transport degree levels. Ground Transportation programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest ground transport degree you can get. How long it takes to complete some common ground transport degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to ground transport, with approximately 2.6% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for ground transport workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 62.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 12.7% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 12.6% |
| Some College Courses | 5.7% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 3.1% |
The chart below shows what degree level those who work in ground transportation have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the ground transport career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your ground transport degree? Ground Transportation careers are expected to grow 6.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to ground transportation.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,980,100 | 5.8% |
| Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers | 1,015,600 | 6.5% |
| Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators | 416,900 | 12.3% |
| Transportation Supervisors | 217,700 | 6.6% |
| Highway Maintenance Workers | 160,200 | 6.9% |
Ground Transportation graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $42,976 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $18,387 to as high as $74,114. As you might expect, salaries for ground transport graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for ground transportation graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers ground transport grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Locomotive Firers | $69,030 |
| Locomotive Engineers | $66,920 |
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $66,080 |
| Pile-Driver Operators | $64,360 |
| Subway and Streetcar Operators | $62,970 |
With over 379 different ground transport degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased ground transport school rankings to help you with this.
Ground Transportation is one of 3 different types of Transportation & Materials Moving programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Truck & Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator & Instructor | 20,171 |
| Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | 1,070 |
| Other Ground Transportation | 137 |
| Railroad & Railway Transportation | 102 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Air Transportation | 10,326 |
| Marine Transportation | 1,493 |
| Other Transportation & Materials Moving | 7 |
