Are 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.
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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.
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.
ADBLOCK #171
Getting Accepted Into a Ground Transportation Program
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.
Ground Transportation Degree Types
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%
ADBLOCK #172
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.
Ground Transport Careers
Above AverageNumber of Jobs
$43kAverage Starting Salary
6% GrowthJob Outlook 2016-26
Growth Projected for Ground Transport Careers
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%
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Ground Transport Degree Salary Potential
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.
High Paying Careers for Ground Transport Majors
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
ADBLOCK #173
Getting Your Ground Transportation Degree
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.
by our College Data Analytics Team
