NATURE OF THE OCCUPATION

Industrial Traffic Managers may: 

Direct activities related to dispatching, routing and tracking transportation vehicles such as aircraft and railroad cars 

Plan, organize and manage the work of subordinate staff to ensure that the work is accomplished in a manner consistent with organizational requirements 

Collaborate with other managers and staff members to formulate and implement policies, procedures, goals and objectives 

Analyze transportation facilities to determine the most economical shipping rates and routes 

Select the route and carrier such as rail, air, road, water, pipe-line, or combination 

Furnish traffic data to other departments and customers 

Handle claims for lost or damaged goods 

Conduct investigations of shipment damages, delays, overcharges, and insurance charges 

Assist in the development of the department budget 

Conduct studies in the areas of product planning, warehousing, packaging, and loading to reduce shipping costs 

Negotiate contracts with other firms to lease equipment or property 

Evaluate and change operating standards and procedures 

Keep records of shipments, freight rates, product classifications, and applicable government regulations 

Represent the firm before governmental regulatory commissions 

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The equipment and materials used may include: 

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES   

Industrial Traffic Managers may specialize in these areas:

184.167-094 TRAFFIC MANAGERS arrange for the receipt and delivery of company goods by formulating and directing plans and procedures for the transporting of raw materials to company production areas and finished products to customers, warehouses, or storage areas.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration Scripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Industrial Traffic Managers in most companies are in charge of the activities of department personnel in shipping and receiving. Most of their work takes place indoors in clean, well-lighted offices. They may often consult with other workers on transportation or shipping problems.

The normal work week is 5-day, 40-hour weeks. However, Managers may be required to spend extra hours preparing reports and traveling to and attending meetings. They might have to be away from home overnight.

Some Industrial Traffic Managers belong to professional associations such as the American Society of Transportation and Logistics or the Council of Logistics Management. Members must pay periodic dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Having business contact with people

• Communicating ideas

• Doing work that brings recognition or appreciation from others 

You Should Be Able To:

• Plan, direct, and coordinate an activity or activities of others

• Evaluate information/make decisions to solve transportation problems

• Express your ideas clearly to others, both orally and in writing

• Work with figures quickly/easily when determining shipping rates

• Maintain orderly records

• Deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions

• Work independently 

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve: 

How much would it cost to send 100 kilograms of raw materials if the rail service charges $2.00 for every pound? 

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend: 

To measure productivity, economists find the output (amount of gods and services produced) for every unit of input. 

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce: 

You should be able to write a letter to the rail company complaining about any items that they may have lost. 

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate: 

You should be able to decide the least expensive way for your company to transport their raw materials.

Many companies require Industrial Traffic Managers to have experience as a Traffic Specialist. Industrial Traffic Managers may become certified by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), after which they are allowed to represent parties at commission hearings. Minimum requirements for certification are a bachelor's degree or two years of college plus two years of appropriate experience and passing a written exam. A growing number of Industrial Traffic Managers are certified by the American Society of Transportation and Logistics.

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES   

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma or Equivalent or a Certificate (program of up to one years of study beyond high school) or an Associate Degree (two years of study beyond high school) or a Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in this Career Exploration Scripts:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1100 ECONOMICS , 2200 MATH , 3300 TECHNOLOGY 

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.

Students should obtain the local Education and Training Opportunities Report for information on what happens to students who successfully complete a program. This information is available at each high school or career/technical center.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***  

170 TRANSPORTATION & DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT   

Programs in Transportation and Distribution Management provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for employment planning, managing, and operating systems to acquire and transport materials and convey people to desired destinations according to schedule. Individuals who teach distributive education at the secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate. 

Courses vary from school to school but may include: 

Processing & Distribution Management 

Planning Logistics, Transportation & Distribution Systems 

Passenger Transportation Systems 

Problems in Logistics, Transportation & Distribution Systems 

Research Methodology in Transportation-Distribution Systems 

Management of Logistics 

National Transportation Plans & Policies 

Management of Logistics 

Transportation & Distribution Systems

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this Career Exploration Script.

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

Please check the Military website at http://www.myfuture.com . 

TRANSPORTATION MANAGERS

Each year, the military transports thousands of service men and women and tons of material to bases across the U.S. and overseas. Ships, aircraft, trucks, buses, and trains are all part of the military's transportation system. Transportation managers direct the transport of military personnel and material by air, road, rail, and water.

What They Do   

Transportation managers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Determine the fastest and most economical way to transport cargo or personnel

• Direct the packing and crating of cargo

• Direct the loading of freight and passengers

• Schedule shipments to ensure fast and timely deliveries

• Schedule pick-up and delivery of shipments

• Oversee the handling of special items, such as medicine and explosives

• See that transport forms, records, and reports are prepared correctly

Special Requirements   

A 4-year college degree is normally required to enter this occupation.

Helpful Attributes   

Helpful fields of study include transportation management, supply management, operations research, logistics, and business of public or public administration. Helpful attributes include:

• Interest in planning and directing the work of others

• Ability to work under tight schedules 

Work Environment   

Transportation managers work in cargo and passenger terminals and depots. 

Training Provided   

Job training consists of between 8 and 12 weeks of classroom instruction. Training length varies depending on specialty. Course content typically includes:

• Transportation management

• Ways to work with civilian and other military service carriers

• Freight classifications

• Handling of special items, such as medicine and explosives 

Civilian Counterparts   

Civilian transportation managers work for airlines, railroads, bus lines, trucking companies, and shipping firms. They perform duties similar to those performed by military transportation managers. However, civilian transportation managers normally specialize in one area of transportation, such as air, water, truck, or railroad transportation. 

Opportunities   

The services need new transportation managers each year.  After job training, transportation managers gain experience on the job. In time, they may advance to senior management or command positions in cargo transportation operations. 

E-Learning Courses and Programs   

Individuals may find part-time or summer employment in the shipping departments of many businesses. Experience can also be gained in less direct ways. Industrial firms frequently advertise or publish articles in industry journals which discuss innovations in packaging and shipping. In this way, those interested in traffic management can become aware of developments in this field. Postsecondary programs in transportation and distribution management may offer a co-op or work experience program. Related training in military service is available also.

School-to-Work opportunities include: 

Informal apprenticeships

Mentorships

Job shadowing experiences

Touring a local Industrial Traffic Manager employer

Internships

Volunteer work with an Industrial Traffic Manager employer

Community service work with an agency

Most Industrial Traffic Managers enter the occupation by applying directly to employers. Assistance in locating a job may be obtained from high school or college placement offices or a local office Michigan Works!. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

You should also enter an electronic resume on these online services.

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Industrial Traffic Managers' depend on the person's qualifications and experience, kind of goods handled, and size of the company. 

Nationally, recent graduates of bachelor's degree programs relating to logistics / materials management had beginning average salary offers of $45,771. Most had offers ranging from $40,000 to $51,000 per year (early2007).

The average salaries in 2007 of Logistic Managers by position were:

Most experienced Managers of Materials employed in Michigan earned from $67,900 to $92,200 or more per year in 2007. The average salary was $82,500.

At one university in Michigan in 2006, graduates with a bachelor's degree in supply-chain management were offered annual salaries averaging $45,611.  

Depending on the employer, most Industrial Traffic Managers receive paid vacations and holidays; life, accident, disability, and hospitalization insurance; and retirement plans. Some also have stock option plans at reduced prices.

Individuals may learn this occupation through informal, on-the-job training as a traffic specialists, but most employers prefer to hire college graduates. Some employers prefer graduates with a degree in traffic management, while others may hire liberal arts graduates who have had courses in transportation, management, economics, commercial law, or other related areas.

Advancement of Industrial Traffic Managers depends on work experience, education, ability, and company policy. Several years of experience are usually required for a traffic manager position. Individuals with a college education usually advance faster than other persons. Employees can sometimes improve their chances for advancement by participating in company-sponsored training programs or by taking advanced courses in traffic management.

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, the number of Industrial Traffic Managers employed in the U.S. was 94,000 in 2006.  . New areas, such as the electronics and space fields, present undeveloped opportunities for the use of new procedures in moving goods. Employment of Industrial Traffic Managers is expected increase about as fast as the average.  Growth will result also from an increasing emphasis on reducing the cost of receiving raw materials and distributing finished products. As rate schedules and regulations become more complex, companies will need the expertise of Industrial Traffic Managers. Besides growth openings, many others will occur as Managers retire or leave the occupation for other reasons.

The reduction of costs and fleet size for transporting and distributing raw materials and finished products has led to the development of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), which is a new form of inventory tracking with an increase emphasis on innovation and technology. RFID is ideally suited for the identification of high-unit-value products moving through a tough assembly process (e.g., automobile or agricultural equipment production where the product is cleaned, bathed, painted and baked). RFID systems also offer the durability essential for permanent identification of captive product carriers such as: tote boxes, containers, barrels, tubs, pallets; tool carriers, monorail and power, and free conveyor trolleys; lift trucks, towline carts, and automatic guided vehicles. RFID has become a widely used application geared towards transportation, distribution, industrial, security and access control and animal identification.  This new development in inventory tracking will certainly be beneficial to Industrial Traffic Managers as they direct and plan out procedures for the transporting of raw materials and finished products nationally and internationally.

The industry distribution of Industrial Traffic Managers is:

There are about 2,550 Industrial Traffic Managers employed in Michigan. Employment of Industrial Traffic Managers in Michigan is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations.  An average of 70 annual openings is expected, with 20 due to growth and 50 due to replacement of those who retire or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations.

 Industrial Traffic Managers would be needed by manufacturing industries alone. Most Industrial Traffic Managers worked for industrial and manufacturing firms such as auto factories, steel mills, and foundries. Although most jobs were found in manufacturing firms, some Industrial Traffic Managers worked for large stores. Most of them worked in urban areas. A few were self-employed consultants or worked for companies that handle transportation problems for clients.

The normal turnover in this occupation should provide some job opportunities for Industrial Traffic Managers. Also, more firms are expected to reorganize shipping and receiving activities into separate transportation departments, thus requiring more Traffic Managers. In other companies, new transportation staff members will be added to work within existing purchasing or sales departments. Workers familiar with just-in- time (JIT) delivery systems and computer applications for freight transportation will be more marketable as shipping and receiving procedures become more complex.

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2014
 

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below. 

  Copyright © 2008 Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth