THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section | wednesDAY, october 21, 2015
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Careersin Transportation
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THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section | wednesday, october 21, 2015
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Job growth predicted for transportation industry
By Robert Fucci Monster contributing writer Employees in the transportation industry are aging, meaning more jobs in the sector will need to be filled soon. According to a recently released government report, 4.6 million workers will need to be hired and trained in the industry due to growth, retirement and turnover through 2022. The report — a combined project from the U.S. Department of Labor, Department of Education and Department of Transportation — details the employment “hot spots” in transportation by industry subsectors, occupations, career areas and geographic areas. Among the other key findings: • Transportation is projected to add 417,000 net jobs from 2012 to 2022 due to industry growth. • Between 2012 and 2022, the average employment growth rate of 11 percent across transportation subsectors is similar to that of the entire economy (10.8 percent) and of the infrastructure industry (11 percent), which includes transportation, logistics, water, energy, telecommunications and public works. • Net transportation job growth will occur in all but two states between 2012
and 2022. Kentucky and Vermont will experience a slight decline, but only by 1 percent. The fastest growth will occur on the West Coast, the Gulf Coast, the upper MidAtlantic, several mountain states and the Midwest. • Much of the regional transportation job growth is driven by growth in the large metropolitan areas within those regions. The highest number of job openings in transportation, including all six subsectors, will likely be generated in New York City, Dallas, Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago between 2012 and 2022. The sector expected to see the most hires is trucking, with over 2 million jobs needed to be filled due to industry growth and separations. Smaller sectors such as railroad and maritime are also expected to see a bump in jobs due to retirements. The report also concluded that 13 out of the top 20 highest demand transportation jobs pay above the median wage, and many of these jobs include strong benefits due to unions in most transportation subsectors. Copyright 2015 — Monster Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This article first appeared on Monster.com. To see other career-related articles, visit career-advice.monster.com.
Classified Sales Manager Laura Hammet
Special Sections Editor Rebecca Walters
Special Sections Writer Carolyn Dix Remer
Careers in Transportation is a publication of The Columbus Dispatch’s Advertising Department.
For Advertising Information: Pam Thomas (614) 883-4982 or pthomas@dispatch.com
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THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section | WEDNESDAY, october 21, 2015
See the country while getting paid as a truck driver (BPT) — One of the best ways to explore the country is by driving America’s highways. You get to meet new people, learn fun and interesting stories, see the sights and wonder at how unique and beautiful the country is. Want to see America’s quirky sights like the largest ball of twine or some of its more touristy destinations like the Statue of Liberty? A road trip is the best way to catch everything. Of course, very few people can afford to just drive the country. This is why a career as a professional truck driver is such a great job opportunity for anyone at any age. Truck driving is a growing occupation, with an 11 percent growth rate in the industry anticipated between 2012 and 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the American Trucking Associations, there is a truck driver shortage of roughly 25,000 in the United States. With a number of drivers retiring within the next five to 10 years, there will be no shortage of job opportunities for safe and professional drivers. “At our terminal, the average age of truck drivers is 56/57,” said Rodney Clarke, terminal manager for The Dana Companies, noting that they are all coming up on retirement. Drivers can find jobs making local deliveries where they get to spend time at home every day of the week, or they can go out and make longer cross-country trips with deliveries. “If you don’t mind being gone during the week, you get to see the country,” Clarke said. Truck driving is also a good way to take care of your family, providing good wages and good benefits, said Mike Ferrando, safety and compliance manager for ODW Logistics. Plus, the varieties of industries that need truck
drivers to transport equipment and products around the country are vast. Depending on what kind of driving career you embark on, you could be delivering home-construction materials one day and cars another. Briley Ritchason, a truck driver for FST Logistics who has been driving trucks for 20 years, admits that the schedule can be tough for those who have families, but said he enjoys the freedom he gets as a truck driver. “As long as I’m doing what I need to be doing, I don’t have anyone looking over my shoulder,” he said. For those interested in becoming a truck driver, there are schools where you can get your Commercial Driver License (CDL), or some companies have training in-house, Ferrando said. There are also state-funded programs that can assist in financial aid for truck-driver training, as well as options like loans from Bridge Credit Union, a credit union that caters to the transportation industry, he said. Truck driving isn’t for everyone, but those who embark on this career love the variety it provides.
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Drivers often need to be independent thinkers and have excellent time-management skills. You also need good people skills, Ritchason said. When you are making a delivery, you are not only representing yourself, but the trucking company as well as the company whose products you are delivering. Additionally, working in an office that’s on the road means you’ll have the opportunity to meet people and see the sights of America — all while getting paid.
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THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section | wednesday, october 21, 2015
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Truck maintenance is a growing career opportunity (BPT) — One career field that requires great hands-on training, provides on-the-job instruction and is growing steadily is that of a diesel truck mechanic. It’s a specialty job, and it’s a career that a person can easily advance in for many years. With the transportation industry seeing increased business opportunities, more trucks are needed to deliver products from manufacturers to warehouses and from warehouses to stores across the country. These trucks will need ongoing maintenance to ensure they stay up and running. “These trucks need to be regularly serviced,” said John Engle, fleet maintenance manager for FST Logistics. With more trucks on the road and many people in the industry retiring, there’s a demand for workers, he said. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that diesel truck mechanics can earn a competitive wage and that the industry will have an additional 21,600 job openings. “There is high demand, it’s a stable and secure job, and it can be very rewarding,” said Mike Ferrando, safety and compliance manager for ODW Logistics. “There’s a sense of accomplishment in taking something broken and fixing it,” Engle added. Truck mechanics can service trucks for everything from a regular oil change to a complete overhaul of the engine.
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They need to know how to use diagnostic equipment and be familiar with both the mechanical and technical aspects of maintaining a diesel engine. There’s a need for those who understand computer diagnostics, but also who are “willing to get their hands dirty,” Engle said, turning the wrenches and getting under the truck. There are schools where those interested can get the proper training and accreditation, he said, some independent and some tied in with community colleges or vocational schools. But, Engle also suggested hands on training, learning from a “grizzled old vet” at a shop.
“Our diesel employers tell us they can’t find enough skilled technicians to meet their current needs, much less expand their operations,” said Jerry Rutter, vice president of employment and solutions at Universal Technical Institute. “Training to be a diesel technician is a smart career choice. Employers are competing with impressive compensation and recruitment packages to hire diesel technicians with the skills they need.” For a career that is going to continue to grow and remain very secure, consider pursuing a job as a diesel truck mechanic.
Taxi driver jobs increasing By Robert Fucci Monster Contributing Writer You enjoy spending your days or nights behind the wheel. You consider yourself a people person and are a safe driver. Have you ever considered a job as a taxi driver? The industry is projected to be among the fastest growing into the next decade. Find out more about this career below.
Daily responsibilities
Simply put, taxi drivers transport patrons to and from various places including hotels, airports, restaurants, malls and more. Familiarity of the towns and cities they drive in is crucial to making sure patrons arrive at their destination on time.
Working conditions
Rates for injuries are among the highest in this profession due to car accidents. Taxi drivers main-
tain flexible working schedules and can dictate when they want a break in their shift, which can be any time of the day.
Entering the field
There are no minimum educational requirements for taxi drivers. Most states require drivers to earn a taxi or limo license. On-the-job training usually lasts no more than two weeks.
Pay day
The average taxi driver earns just shy of $28,000 annually, according to PayScale, although some have earned as much as $65,000.
Hiring forecast
Job openings for taxi drivers are projected to grow 16 percent through 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, making it among the highest growing industries. Those with a safe driving history and flexible schedule are most likely to land these jobs.
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THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section | WEDNESDAY, october 21, 2015
This aviation career is perfect if you love to travel
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By Robert Fucci Monster CONTRIBUTING WRITER Imagine having a job that takes you to different cities almost every day. If you’re someone who would rather travel than stay at home most of the time, then a career as a flight attendant may be for you. How often do they travel? Well, flight attendants typically spend 75 to 90 hours a month in the air and about two to three nights a week away from home. If this piques your interest, check out these other facts and figures related to this in-the-air career.
Daily responsibilities
Becoming a flight attendant is more than just greeting passengers. They must take inventory of refreshments and emergency equipment before and after flights, clean the cabin, serve refreshments, demonstrate how to use seat belts and oxygen masks, direct passengers to emergency exits and more.
Working conditions
Flight attendants can expect to work shifts that last 12 to 14 hours. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires nine-hour breaks before their next flight. While away from home, employ-
Flight attendants can earn as much as $81,000 annually. ers usually set up hotel arrangements and give meal allowances.
Entering the industry
Flight attendants must be certified by the FAA and have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Training seminars typically last anywhere from three to six weeks. Communication and customer service skills are important traits to possess.
Getting paid
The average annual pay for flight attendants is about $36,000, according to PayScale.com, although some may earn as much as $81,000.
Hiring forecast
Many flight attendants are expected to retire over the next 10 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Opportunities are expected to be stronger at regional or low-cost airlines. Copyright 2015 — Monster Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This article first appeared on Monster.com. To see other career-related articles, visit career-advice.monster.com.
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THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section | wednesday, october 21, 2015
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Careers abound in warehouse management
Matt Krumrie Monster Contributing Writer Cory Lynch, CEO of Minnesotabased Team Personnel Services, said that when employers come to him for warehouse managers, one request always stands out: “Versatility — they want someone who has done and can do a little bit of everything.” “First off, they must be able to manage a wide variety of people with different backgrounds, educational levels, professional experience and goals,” Lynch said. “That means dealing with an 18-year-old who doesn’t really want to be there and is just making money from a summer job, to the person who has 10 to 20 years of experience and knows the company inside and out. They need to know how to do everyone’s job: running a forklift; packaging products; dealing with deliveries, storage or space issues; and of course, customer service and employee issues.” In addition to knowing all of the details, Lynch said warehouse managers also need to keep track of the big picture. A typical warehouse manager’s duties include: • Overseeing and recording deliveries and pickups. • Loading and unloading materials and supplies.
• Maintaining inventory records and the tracking system. • Determining appropriate places for storage. • Rotating stock as needed. • Adjusting inventory levels to reflect receipts and disbursements. “A warehouse is a company’s lifeline, its supply center and where goods are moved,” Lynch said. “It’s a big job, a job that probably isn’t appreciated by most — except those who do it.” Warehouse management also requires a working knowledge of: • Inventory control and warehousing systems. • Loading and unloading procedures. • Hazardous materials storage. • Simple math. “A warehouse manager is constantly putting out small fires,” said Marc Thompson, who has worked as a manager at a leading Midwest golf equipment retailer for six years. He knows what it’s like when shipments don’t come in and orders aren’t filled. “A shipment didn’t come in the day a big promotion was to start, or goods are damaged,” he explained. “You also have to deal with safety issues and procedures. Because we are moving heavy items with forklifts and placing these materials high above
ground, one mistake can lead to serious injury. Each person has a duty and responsibility that greatly affects the other employees’ ability to do their job.” But despite the dangers and downsides, Thompson enjoys the work. “The thing I get a kick out of is that an item is on display in the store, and the average customer doesn’t even know the steps it took to get that display from the distributor, to the warehouse and looking professional to be on display,” he said. “But that’s a good thing, because if they don’t know it, it means we are doing our job. In order for the front of the store to succeed, the people in the warehouse have to do their jobs. It’s kind of like working in a restaurant. A cook can make a great steak, but the waitress is the one who brings in the big tips.” Thompson offered these tips for those interested in becoming warehouse managers: • Work in a warehouse to get a feel for its day-to-day operations. “Whether you are in inventory, a laborer or operating equipment, this is invaluable,” he said. • No day is the same, so be ready for anything, anytime.
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• Be prepared to work with a variety of people. “One day you could be walking through the warehouse with the CEO, talking about ways to improve the flow of goods, and then the next day you are working with a teenager whose first job is unloading trailers and shipments,” said Thompson. “You run the gamut in this industry.” • Understand technology. According to Thompson, knowledge of inventory-management software is key. Copyright 2015 — Monster Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This article first appeared on Monster.com. To see other career-related articles, visit careeradvice.monster.com.